Opening up many opportunities for tourism-cinema cooperation between Vietnam and the US

The Vietnam tourism and film promotion program in the US will be held from September 23-25 ​​in San Francisco and Los Angeles, California, with the theme "Vietnam - A New Destination for World Cinema".

On September 16th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a press conference to introduce the Vietnam Tourism and Film Promotion Program in the United States.

This is a key tourism promotion event organized by the Ministry at the end of September, aiming to open up new opportunities to promote the image of Vietnam, its people, and its culture through cinema.

Scene from the press conference. (Photo: Le An)

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong affirmed that Vietnam has long been known as an attractive destination with stunning landscapes, from the majestic Ha Long Bay to the charming Hoi An ancient town and the dreamy highlands.

The Deputy Minister affirmed: "Our country still possesses rich cultural and historical heritage, along with the beauty in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. This is an invaluable resource not only for the tourism industry but also for Vietnamese and international cinema."

With a deep understanding of the power of cinema in promoting tourism, we have developed this program and hope to bring the image of Vietnam closer to international audiences, especially audiences in the United States - one of the largest and most diverse cultural markets.”

The Vietnam-America Tourism and Film Promotion Program in the United States, titled "Vietnam - A New Destination for World Cinema," aims to showcase Vietnam not only as an ideal destination for tourists but also as an attractive destination for leading filmmakers, directors, and actors worldwide.

This confirms that Vietnam has locations that could become famous film sets, both in terms of natural landscapes and diverse cultural identity.

During this visit, the Vietnamese delegation will meet and work with Google to promote cooperation in the development, communication, and promotion of Vietnamese tourism and cinema.

This Vietnam tourism and film promotion program in the United States is a major overseas promotional activity of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with the participation of many localities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh province and Quang Binh province; and major tourism corporations and businesses including: Vietnam Airlines, VinGroup, SOVICO Group, Vietravel...

According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, the promotional program also features KOLs and brand ambassadors such as H'Hen Niê - Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, Luong Thuy Linh - Miss World Vietnam 2019, actor and MC Quyen Linh, actress Mai Thu Huyen, etc.

The organizers will display photographs showcasing Vietnam's nature, landscapes, history, culture, UNESCO heritage sites, and people; tourist destinations, products, and services; and potential for film settings.

The highlight was the seminar introducing the tourism and film potential of Vietnam; showcasing beautiful films shot in Vietnam; discussing Vietnam's mechanisms and policies to facilitate international filmmakers; and outlining specific support and incentive commitments from localities and businesses participating in the program.

Notably, world-renowned filmmakers and directors are expected to attend the event to share their filmmaking experiences in Vietnam, including: Phillip Noyce, director of * The Quiet American* ; Jordan Vogt-Robert, director of * Kong: Skull Island *; Leann Emmert, Production Director of *Kong: Skull Island* ; Lori Balton, Production Director of * Shang Chi *; and Justin Booth, Executive Producer of * The Challenge*.

At the press conference, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Evans Knapper emphasized the US Embassy's participation in the Vietnam Tourism-Film Promotion Program to foster people-to-people exchanges between the two countries within the framework of their strategic partnership.

According to the Ambassador, films are powerful tools of soft power diplomacy and cultural exchange, bridging cultural differences and further strengthening connections between people and between nations.

Through events such as Vietnam's film and tourism promotion program, Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper hopes to encourage more American filmmakers to come to Vietnam and choose Vietnam as a filming location for their movies. This could contribute to discovering iconic landmarks that could become sought-after tourist destinations for international visitors, generating revenue for local businesses.

Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper affirmed that the U.S. diplomatic mission in Vietnam is always ready to support expanding cooperation in the film industry and other creative industries.

At the press conference, in response to a question from a reporter from TG&VN about opportunities for cooperation in tourism and film between the two countries, Deputy Minister Ho An Phong said that this program opens up opportunities to introduce Vietnam's brand as a friendly, high-quality, and sustainable tourist destination; it is an opportunity for Vietnamese tourism service providers to meet and connect with US businesses and partners; and it promotes the signing and effective implementation of cooperation agreements on tourism and film between the two sides...

Delegates attending the press conference pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: Le An)

The Deputy Minister shared: “With this program, we expect to open up many opportunities for cooperation between filmmakers and tourism businesses, in order to maximize the potential of these two fields.”

We are very much looking forward to collaborating with international film partners, especially from the United States. Vietnam is committed to creating the most favorable conditions for foreign film crews to come to Vietnam to carry out their projects. From assisting with administrative procedures to providing information on potential filming locations, we are always ready to accompany and support them to the fullest extent.

At the same time, through this program, Vietnamese filmmakers will have the opportunity to learn from and interact with international colleagues - leading Hollywood filmmakers - thereby contributing to improving the quality and position of Vietnamese cinema on the international stage.

The Vietnamese government has always identified culture, tourism, and film as key areas in economic development and national image promotion. Therefore, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is ready to collaborate with international partners to create specific support programs and policies to promote sustainable development in these fields.”

The Vietnam tourism and film promotion program in the US includes the following main activities: Organizing working delegations with the US side to promote cooperation in tourism and film development; organizing a space to introduce the country, people, and culture of Vietnam; a seminar introducing the tourism and film potential of Vietnam; a business networking event and traditional art performances.

The program is expected to attract 500 guests, including representatives from government agencies, regulatory bodies, businesspeople, investors, the Motion Picture Association of America, producers, studio executives, directors, set designers, Hollywood stars, marketing partners, MICE/event service businesses, media outlets, reporters, journalists, KOLs, bloggers, representatives from online travel platforms, and US social media platforms.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/mo-ra-nhieu-co-hoi-hop-tac-du-lich-dien-anh-giua-viet-nam-va-my-286520.html