Acting Chairman of Quang Ninh Province People's Committee Cao Tuong Huy welcomes first international tourists on first day of the Year of the Cat. — VNA/VNS
QUANG NINH (Vietnam News/Asia News Network): The northern province of Quang Ninh held a ceremony on Jan 22, the first day of the Year of the Cat, to welcome the lunar new year's first group of foreign tourists to Hạlong Bay – a world natural heritage site recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
The group comprised 150 visitors from different countries arriving on the cruise ship Silver Spirit, which departed from Hong Kong (China). Quang Ninh is the first docking point of the ship on the first voyage of the Year of the Cat. After leaving Quang Ninh, the Silver Spirit's next destinations are Danang and HCM City.
The same day, the central coastal city of Danang also welcomed the first international flight of the new lunar year, which was the VZ964 of Thai Vietjet Air carrying 100 passengers from Thailand.
Upon their arrival, the guests were treated to a lively welcome ceremony with art performance and presented with vouchers for local destinations, restaurants and specialties.
During the Lunar New Year holiday 2023 which lasts from Janu 20-26, Danang is slated to receive 768 international and domestic flights with more than 98,000 passengers. A variety of activities will be organised for local residents and tourists on the occasion including Tet fairs, a street carnival, and performances of Bài chòi singing (a folk music genre practised in Vietnam’s central region, which has been added to the Unesco Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity).
Also on Jan 22, a train carrying 300 tourists, including 50 foreigners, arrived in the central province of Bình Thuận. The first visitors to the province in the Year of the Cat were welcomed at the Phan Thiet Station with Tet wishes and lucky money in accordance with traditional Tet customs.
The province, which hosts the 2023 national tourism year, has set a target of attracting 6.5 million visitors, including 200,000 international travellers, this year. Total revenue from tourism activities is expected to hit VNĐ15.9 trillion (US$678 million).
