An impressive greeting from Ho Chi Minh City.

"Ho Chi Minh City is vibrant" is the greeting from Ho Chi Minh City to nearly 700 delegates from 33 countries and territories attending the 18th Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Fair 2024 (ITE HCMC 2024).

Attending the Gala were Mr. Ho An Phong - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Phan Van Mai - Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; former leaders of the Party and State: Ms. Truong My Hoa - Former Vice President ; Ms. Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh - Former Vice President; along with leaders of the Ministries in charge of tourism from various countries; leaders of provinces and cities of Vietnam and internationally; and nearly 700 delegates from 33 countries and territories participating in the ITE HCMC 2024 Fair.

The ITE HCMC 2024 trade fair, themed "Sustainable Tourism - Shaping the Future," aims to encourage active participation from all stakeholders to promote sustainable tourism development and create a better future. Therefore, the "Vietnam Night" Gala serves as a greeting to friends around the world, showcasing a vibrant Ho Chi Minh City striving to achieve the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized the history of the formation and development of Saigon - Cholon - Gia Dinh, now Ho Chi Minh City. Through perseverance and courage, with a will to conquer nature and a desire to explore new lands, the first generations set foot here and built the city into one of Vietnam's largest economic , cultural, educational, and trade gateway cities – a riverside and coastal city rich in identity that has offered and continues to offer many interesting experiences to tourists.

Throughout history, Saigon - Cholon - Gia Dinh, now Ho Chi Minh City, has always been recognized as a young and dynamic city. Ho Chi Minh City stands out for its blend of cultural and social elements, where tradition and modernity meet, where historical heritage and modern urban development harmoniously combine, and where national and international cultures intersect, creating a vibrant and creative living and working environment. It also serves as clear evidence of how a city can preserve traditional cultural values ​​while embracing innovation and creativity with great force.

Mr. Phan Van Mai, Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, delivered the opening speech for the program.

"For over 326 years, Saigon - Cholon - Gia Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City, has been the cradle of peace-loving people, always looking towards the future, cooperating and befriending all nations and peoples in the world. This is also the source of its openness and enthusiasm, readily welcoming all friends and visitors from afar as if they were returning family, to jointly build a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainably developed world, while not forgetting to protect the natural environment and preserve, maintain, and promote the humanistic and cultural values ​​of humanity; this is the driving force for Ho Chi Minh City to participate in the global network of Creative Cities for the development of nature and human society," Mr. Phan Van Mai emphasized.

The "Vietnam Night" Gala art program, with the theme "Vibrant Ho Chi Minh City," conveys the image and message of a harmonious flow, taking all viewers through the beauty of the city's landscapes, people, and culture.

Opening the program, the song "Vietnam in My Heart" proudly introduced Vietnam as a beautiful, safe country rich in cultural identity and cherishing nature. It also expressed pride in a vibrant, civilized, modern, and compassionate Ho Chi Minh City. Through folk songs, traditional melodies, and chants – an important part of Vietnamese cultural identity – the Gala Night presented lively performances showcasing the beauty and people of Vietnam to friends both domestically and internationally.

Continuing the program, the audience was further captivated by four elaborately staged performances, brimming with national pride, including the dance performances "The Beauty of Ho Chi Minh City's Scenery," "The Beauty of Ho Chi Minh City's People," "The Beauty of Ho Chi Minh City's Culture," and "The Harmonious Flow, the Vibrant Beauty of Ho Chi Minh City"...

The performances successfully recreated the complete story, from the city's prosperity and greenery to the bountiful harvests, the smiles of the people, and the image of the ao dai dresses bearing the symbols of Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the organizers, over 17 editions, the ITE HCMC Fair has continuously innovated and improved its professionalism in organization, striving to become the most influential tourism fair in the Asian region.

This year's ITE HCMC 2024 fair, themed "Sustainable Tourism - Shaping the Future," defines the strategic vision of Vietnam's tourism industry in general and Ho Chi Minh City's tourism in particular as developing sustainable tourism.

Tourism development should not only be based on economic benefits but also harmonize with cultural, social, and environmental values, aiming for green tourism and net-zero tourism. Building the future is a key focus of the theme, reflecting a strategic perspective: sustainable tourism is not simply about preservation, but also about creativity and innovation in the approach to tourism to ensure that cultural, historical, and natural values ​​are preserved and developed.

The ITE HCMC 2024 trade fair will officially open on the morning of September 5th, 2024 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/chuong-program-nghe-thuat-dem-viet-nam-loi-chao-an-tuong-cua-tphcm-20240904214543586.htm