Tapping Indian market

Whether it’s connectivity or lack of information, Ton Sinh Thanh, Ambassador to India, Nepal & Bhutan, S.R. of Vietnam, tells , how both countries can work together to curb all ways to increase tourism from India to Vietnam.

Vietnam recently organised a roadshow in India in New Delhi for the first time. The occasion coincided with the celebration of Vietnam’s 69th National Day. On the occasion, various tourist destinations including MICE, leisure and honeymoon destinations were showcased. Vietnam is a country with a mix of edgy urban with natural rural. One can find every aspect of nature in this country, from forest to sea and all kinds of architecture, from ancient to modern. The country is also a perfect destination for honeymooners and newly married couples.

Ton Sinh Thanh, Ambassador to India, Nepal & Bhutan, S.R. of Vietnam said, “In terms of connectivity, we highly appreciate the recent opening of direct flights by Jet Airways from New Delhi to Ho Chi Minh City.

Thanh informed that more roadshows are being planned in every quarter in different Indian states and cities. The next destinations will be Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. “Only about 30,000 Indian tourists visited Vietnam last year. This is a surprisingly low number, especially if we compare it to over 1 million of Indian tourists to Thailand in 2013, over 900,000 to Singapore and 200,000 to Indonesia, in the same period. We think the lack of information and connectivity is to be blamed,” Thanh added.

He also mentioned that it is necessary for the Vietnamese and Indian tour operators to tap the huge potentials for tourism cooperation between Vietnam and India which will not only bring the benefits to the tour operators but also contribute in strengthening the people to people linkage and traditional friendship between the two countries.

We hope that the connectivity could be further enhanced when Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air will open direct flights from Vietnam to India early next year.”