Full text: Opening speech of Minister Nguyen Van Hung at the opening ceremony of National Tourism Year

Dear Comrade Tran Cam Tu, Member of the Political Bureau, Standing Member of the Central Secretariat of the Party,

Dear Comrade Mai Van Chinh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Prime Minister,

Dear Comrade Vu Hong Thanh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly,

Distinguished members of the Central Committee of the Party, leaders of central departments, ministries and agencies, provinces/cities, and current and former leaders of Hue City,

Distinguished delegates, honored guests, and all citizens and tourists!

As we know, the National Tourism Year is held annually on a rotating basis among provinces and cities across the country. To date, after 20 successful editions, it has made a significant contribution to promoting domestic tourism, attracting a large number of international tourists, and promoting the image of Vietnam as a " safe, friendly, peaceful, hospitable, integrated, and developing " country to the world.

If 2024 takes the theme "Glory of Dien Bien Phu - Endless Experience", in 2025, the National Tourism Year returns to Hue for the second time, at a time when the Party Committee, government and people of all ethnic groups here are honored and proud when Thua Thua Hue province officially becomes a city directly under the Central Government from January 1, 2025, making efforts with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize the Opening Ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2025 with the theme " Hue - Ancient Capital, New Opportunities ".

At this important ceremony, the National Tourism Year Steering Committee and the city of Hue are extremely pleased and honored to welcome the leaders of the Party and State, representatives of leaders from ministries, departments, localities, delegates, distinguished guests, the business community, and the people to attend, encourage, and spread the value of tourism. We wish the leaders, distinguished delegates, and all the people and tourists good health, happiness, and success.

Dear Leaders, delegates, distinguished guests and fellow countrymen, comrades,

In the process of building and developing the country, Hue city has always held an important role and position; in which, with its location in the middle of the country, Hue city plays a role in connecting the three regions of North - Central - South; is a large urban area, the capital of Dang Trong, a land of talented people. Hue city has a rich history and culture formed and developed through the flow of nearly 720 years of Thuan Hoa - Phu Xuan - Hue; containing the quintessence, symbolic values of intelligence and civilization of the Vietnamese people with 8 heritages recognized by UNESCO; including "Hue Royal Court Music", which has resounded on the world cultural map, contributing to affirming the eternal value of traditional Vietnamese art.

From the soulful melodies of Hue folk songs to traditional handicrafts such as Sinh village paintings, Phu Cam conical hats, embroidery, and pottery, from rustic rural markets to the exquisite cuisine of Hue's royal court... all these elements combine to create a vibrant and colorful cultural tapestry, both elegant and refined, imbued with the spirit of Vietnamese countryside. Every visitor who sets foot here feels the harmonious blend of past and present, of people and nature.

The National Tourism Year 2025 took place with many exciting activities in Hue city and many provinces/cities across the country, in the direction of " combining strength, multiplying advantages, and unleashing success ", in which the aim is to organize practical, widespread events such as cultural - tourism weeks, culinary festivals, art activities "diverse in form - unique in content ", " transforming the values of cultural assets and cultural industries into resources and driving forces for tourism development ", with a new spirit, new enthusiasm, deeply echoing the cultural traditions and thousands of years of civilization of the nation, deeply expressing the will and aspiration for strong and prosperous development of the nation.

Distinguished Leaders, esteemed guests, and fellow citizens and comrades,

In the first two months of 2025, Vietnam Tourism welcomed nearly 4 million international visitors, an increase of 30% over the same period in 2024, served 26.5 million domestic visitors, and tourism revenue was estimated at 160 trillion VND. This is a positive signal, affirming Vietnam's attractiveness on the world tourism map.

To enable the entire industry to achieve the goal of welcoming 22-23 million international visitors and serving 120-130 million domestic tourists in 2025, making Vietnam an attractive destination for international cultural, sports and tourism exchange, contributing to the successful implementation of the socio-economic development plan with a growth target of 8% or more, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will proactively coordinate regularly and closely with ministries, sectors, Hue city and provinces/cities, and the business community: (1) Early formation of a smart tourism ecosystem associated with comprehensive digital transformation; strengthening connection, support and " taking the experience of tourists as the center "; (2) Launching the emulation movement " Professional service, attentive service, civilized behavior, green and clean environment ", bringing " The smile of Vietnamese tourism "; (3) Develop diverse and unique tourism products and services based on distinct potential, associated with promoting heritage values and national cultural identity in line with new trends: high-end resort tourism, health tourism, agricultural tourism and regional specialty products, culinary tourism; (4) Improve transportation infrastructure connecting destinations; (5) Focus on promotion and advertising through key campaigns, maximize the power of communication, mobilize cooperation from diplomatic representative agencies in other countries, and communicate through social networks; (6) Promote bilateral tourism cooperation and cooperation through international organizations in the field of tourism.

On this occasion, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism respectfully requests localities, businesses, investors and all people to promote creativity, unleash productivity, create good values, and have the ability to strongly connect economic, political, cultural, social and scientific pillars to implement the directions of the Party, State and Government leaders, and effectively implement Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector.

Once again, on behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, I would like to sincerely thank and wish the Standing Member of the Secretariat, the leaders of the Party and State, and all distinguished guests and people good health, happiness and success.

Thank you very much./.