Việt Nam's famous travel hotspot Sapa town in the northern mountainous province of L:ào Cai. — VNA/VNS Photo

LÀO CAI — The southern metropolis HCM City and eight provinces in the expanded northwestern region hosted 69.2 million visitors in 2023, accounting for 105 per cent of the set target and up nearly 28 per cent year-on-year, heard a conference held in the mountainous province of Lào Cai on Monday to review their tourism cooperation programme.

Tourism revenue was estimated at VNĐ205.5 trillion (US$8.47 billion), or 102.7 per cent of the annual plan.

The tourism tie-up during the 2021-25 period aims at fully tapping potential, and developing more inter-regional offerings between HCM City and the eight provinces of Điện Biên, Hà Giang, Hoà Bình, Lai Châu, Lào Cai, Sơn La, Yên Bái, and Phú Thọ.

As the leader of the cooperation group in 2023, Lào Cai Province chaired and coordinated with other members to outline plans, arranged expenditure, and directed other members to organise an array of activities, including the quintessence of northwestern region festival in HCM City; expanded northwestern region cultural tourism week in HCM City, Cần Thơ, and Hà Nội; and the northwestern region and HCM City cultural tourism week in Luang Prabang (Laos).

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hoàng Quốc Khánh said the events made contributions to the popularisation of the localities’ tourism potential, destinations, and products to visitors and investors from far and wide.

With a view to strengthening tourism linages within the group, participants at the conference agreed to step up digital transformation, especially building a national tourism database and developing safe destinations for visitors.  

The group said they will join hands to set up the “Colours of Northwestern region – HCM City” to introduce their potential, strengths, and standout tourism products, while promoting communications work on their images on flights as well as domestic and international mass media.

Besides, digital technologies will be applied into tourism linkages and promotion activities.

The northern midland province Phú Thọ will hold the group leadership in 2024. — VNS