Promoting practical and effective cooperation in culture, sports, and tourism.

Attending the reception were representatives from the Department of International Cooperation and the Vietnam National Tourism Administration. On the Iranian side were Mr. Ali Akabar Nazari, Ambassador of Iran to Vietnam; and representatives from the Department of Foreign Tourism Market Development…

Speaking at the reception, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong expressed his pleasure to welcome the delegation from the Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, led by Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong received Deputy Minister of Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Iran Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi

Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi affirmed that cultural and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Iran is progressing very well, based on mutual understanding and efforts for the common benefit of both countries. Many cultural exchange and tourism promotion activities have been and are being jointly organized by the two countries. This contributes to strengthening friendship and promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.

Furthermore, cultural cooperation has always been a priority for the Iranian government , as evidenced by the development of various policies; it is considered an important area that supports Iran in expanding cooperation with other countries in many fields.

Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi stated that Vietnam and Iran share many similarities in history and culture. This will create favorable conditions for both sides to strengthen the organization of cultural, artistic, and tourism events, giving the people of Vietnam and Iran more opportunities to learn about each other's rich and unique cultures. Iran will create the best possible conditions for Vietnam to successfully organize cultural and tourism events in the country.

The Deputy Minister also informed that Iran has a developed handicraft industry. The city of Isfahan has been recognized by UNESCO as a traditional handicraft city. Leveraging its strengths, Iran hopes to expand cooperation in handicrafts with Vietnam, considering it one of the industries that contributes to the development of culture and tourism.

Regarding tourism, Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi emphasized that Iran considers tourism one of its top priorities because, in addition to economic benefits, it helps promote the image of the country, its culture, and its people to the world. The demand for travel among Iranians is very high, with approximately 12 million people traveling abroad in 2023.

Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi noted that Vietnam places particular importance on tourism development, leveraging its strengths in numerous scenic spots, historical sites, and beaches. Based on this, the Iranian side stated that Iran is ready to cooperate with Vietnam in organizing events to promote the tourism image of both countries to the world; creating opportunities to build and develop tourism products between Vietnam and Iran.

The Deputy Minister also suggested that Vietnam should soon study and consider opening a direct flight route between the two countries to pave the way for the development of Vietnam-Iran tourism. In particular, Deputy Minister Ali Asghar Shalbafian Hosseinabadi hoped that Vietnam would consider waiving tourist visa requirements for Iranian citizens.

Scenes from the reception

Speaking at the reception, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong said that the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Iran is a good one, especially in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism.

Regarding culture, according to Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong, relations between Vietnam and Iran in the cultural field are developing well. The Iranian Embassy in Vietnam annually collaborates with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Vietnamese partners to organize activities introducing Iranian culture, such as film screenings, heritage photo exhibitions, and culinary presentations. Iran has previously submitted films to and won high awards at the Hanoi International Film Festival.

The Deputy Minister expressed his wish for Vietnam and Iran to strengthen information exchange, reciprocal visits, and explore organizing cultural and artistic exchange and promotion activities such as art exhibitions, photography and film screenings, and art performances, targeting the public and enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries.

In 2023, during the visit of the Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly to Iran, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran and relevant Iranian agencies, successfully organized the Vietnamese Culture Week in Iran to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran. Activities included an outdoor exhibition space on Vietnamese culture titled "Colors of Vietnam" and a Vietnamese Film Week in Iran. In January 2024, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam, organized the Iranian Film Week in Hanoi.

Regarding tourism, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong stated that in 2023, the Prime Minister of Vietnam issued a Decision approving the Project "Strengthening International Cooperation to Build and Develop the Halal Industry in Vietnam by 2030". The project, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in coordination with relevant ministries, agencies, localities, and organizations, has received significant attention from the Government, ministries, agencies, localities, and businesses. The project will contribute to promoting tourism, boosting trade and investment in Halal products and services, and attracting tourists from the Middle East in general and Iran in particular.

According to the Deputy Minister, the Vietnamese people greatly appreciate the culture and beauty of Iran, the homeland of the One Thousand and One Nights and home to 27 UNESCO World Heritage sites. However, promoting tourism cooperation between the two countries remains limited. The majority of visitors are business travelers. The Deputy Minister hopes that the two Ministries will implement policies to promote tourism cooperation and publicize the destinations of both countries to their respective citizens.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will study and discuss with relevant agencies the possibility of signing a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism and heritage cooperation between the two Ministries in the near future. In the short term, it will encourage and facilitate tourism businesses from both countries to develop combined multi-country Southeast Asian tour programs, including Vietnam, in an effort to capitalize on the abundant tourist flow to Southeast Asia.

The delegates took a commemorative photo.

Vietnam and Iran are strengthening exchanges and contacts at all levels through visits and working trips, tourism events; exchanging information and organizing activities to promote and advertise tourism images between the two sides; and exchanging delegations of journalists and media to visit each other in order to promote the tourism brand of each country.

The Deputy Minister also requested Iran to share its experience in tourism policy planning, marketing, and management; to strengthen promotional activities in each country to attract tourists; and to support Vietnam in developing tourism products suitable for the Halal tourism market.

Regarding sports, Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong stated that Iran has a strong sports development in various disciplines: football, wrestling, basketball, volleyball, futsal... and especially martial arts such as taekwondo, karatedo, kickboxing, and vovinam. The fact that the headquarters of the Asian Vovinam Federation is located in Iran is an advantage for Vietnam to strengthen cooperation and develop this sport in Iran in particular and Asia in general.

The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that both sides would continue to actively and proactively implement the Memorandum of Understanding on sports cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Iran.

At the same time, create favorable conditions for associations and federations to strengthen connections, exchanges, and seek cooperation opportunities for mutual benefit. We request Iran's support for Vietnam in sports where Iran has strengths, in terms of experts, training, coaches, and sports management personnel.

Deputy Minister Hoang Dao Cuong expressed his confidence that the visit and work of the delegation would contribute to promoting cooperation in the fields of culture, sports, and tourism between the two countries, and at the same time achieve more practical and effective results.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/viet-nam-iran-thuc-day-hop-tac-van-hoa-the-thao-du-lich-thiet-thuc-hieu-qua-20240701163505943.htm