(VOVworld) - The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2017 opens today/on Thursday in Hanoi. Nearly 650 enterprises and tourism management and promotion agencies from 43 of Vietnam’s cities and provinces and 25 countries and territories are taking part at the VITM 2017.

The first International street food festival at the Vietnam International Travel Mart 2017 (Photo: VOV5)

The highlight of this year Mart is the International street food festival with the performances of many famous chefs from many different countries. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr Huynh Vinh Ai, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism said: “Promoting and advertising tourism plays an important role in expanding tourism market. The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2017 is considered Vietnam’s premier professional tourism event and one of the largest travel shows in the region.”

Organized the first time in 2013, this year’s event is the fifth edition which will last until this Sunday.