(TITC) - On 21st June (local time), in Warsaw, Poland, as part of a working trip to Europe, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) Ho An Phong led a delegation to have a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy in Poland. The meeting aimed to strengthen cultural diplomacy and promote Vietnam tourism in the European market, with Poland as a key focus.
Leaders of both sides taking photos
At the meeting, MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong emphasized that in implementing Government Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP on visa exemption for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland participating in tour programs organized by Vietnamese travel agencies, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism are organizing a series of promotional activities in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland during this June.
MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong speaking at the meeting
"Vietnam is making continuous efforts to rise in the new era, aiming for a prosperous and deeply integrated future," stated MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong. He added that foreign affairs is one of the top priorities in the newly issued strategic resolutions, including Resolution 57-NQ/TW on science and technology, Resolution 59-NQ/TW on international integration, Resolution 66-NQ/TW on institutional and legal reform, and Resolution 68-NQ/TW on promoting the private economy.
MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong affirmed that in the trend of multilateral diplomacy, Vietnam is always a friend and trustworthy partner of the international community. The traditional and strong relationship between Vietnam and Poland has been strengthened by the growing and successful Vietnamese community in Poland, including many young intellectuals.
Overview of the meeting
Deputy Minister Ho An Phong proposed to maintain annual roadshow programs to promote Vietnamese tourism in Poland, aiming to spread the image of Vietnam's land, people, and culture closer to the Polish public. “Cuisine, traditional costumes like the Ao Dai, and iconic destinations such as Ba Na Hills (Da Nang) or One Pillar Pagoda (Hanoi) are ‘tourism ambassadors’ that should be creatively and effectively promoted,” he stated.
He also acknowledged the important role of the media in conveying national images. According to MOCST’s Deputy Minister Ho An Phong, culture is one of Vietnam’s most distinctive and attractive "products" delivering long-term value. The government is set to issue a National Strategy for the Development of the Cultural Industries by 2030, with a vision to 2045, aiming to make culture a spearhead industry.
Ambassador Ha Hoang Hai speaking at the meeting
Mr. Ha Hoang Hai, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Republic of Poland and concurrently to Lithuania said that recently, the Embassy had proactively organized various events such as Vietnam Cultural Day and Food Festival featuring iconic Vietnamese dishes like pho, nem, banh mi, and bun cha to promote the country’s image to Polish people.
The Ambassador shared that the Polish Prime Minister is expected to make an official visit to Vietnam at the end of September this year. He hopes that on this occasion, Vietnam will consider extending the visa exemption policy for Polish citizens until 2026 as a gesture of friendship and cooperation.
Tourism Information Technology Center
