(VOVWORLD) -A tourism promotion program was held by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) and the Vietnamese Embassy in France on Tuesday as part of activities to promote Vietnamese tourism in France, Italy, and Germany.
 VNAT General Director Nguyen Trung Khanh speaks at the program (Photo: VNA)
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VNAT General Director Nguyen Trung Khanh said Vietnam is now a favorite destination for tourists from France and Europe thanks to its many world-recognized cultural and natural heritages, its unique culture, and its culinary diversity.
The Vietnamese government has waived visas for French visitors since 2015 and extended the temporary stay for French travelers to 45 days starting from August 15, 2023. Convenient direct flights and simple entry and exit procedures are ideal conditions to attract more European tourists to Vietnam.
Currently, Europe is a key market for Vietnamese tourism. Last year, Vietnam welcomed over 1.4 million European visitors, an increase of 187% compared to 2022.
In the first 5 months of this year, over 975,000 European visitors arrived in Vietnam, an increase of 57.1% against the same period last year. French tourists numbered nearly 216,000 people last year, reaching a recovery rate of 75% compared to the pre-COVID‑19 period, making it Vietnam’s second largest tourist market in the European Union.