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The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will organize a series of promotion activities at home and abroad in 2008, said a tourism official.

VNAT will arrange for domestic businesses to join 10 travel fairs in the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, England, Russia, China, Spain and the ASEAN region. In Australia and the ASEAN region, there will be events to promote Vietnam as a destination for international tourist. Besides, Vietnam Day in Canada and Australia will also be a chance for Vietnam's tourism to be known.

The main tourism events in the country will include the National Tourism Festival in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, Hue Festival, Back To Origin programs in the north, and some activities to promote ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 and TRAVEX International Fair 2009.

Pham Huu Minh, head of the Tourism Promotion Department of VNAT, told the Daily that his department announced the events so soon that businesses could prepare to join them.

"After this year's successful promotion, we are planning other activities for next year to promote Vietnam's tourism more strongly," he said. These activities include familiarization trips and advertising in international media.

Around 23 provinces and cities across the country have amounced 61 tourism and cultural events for next year. Other provinces and cities will also publicise their programs later.

Minh said VNAT had updated the list of events just to inform businesses, not to finance or support the events. "We just support the main tourism events and the events connected with other provinces to promote common tourism products", he said.

Minh said Vietnam's tourism promotions were to encourage the cooperation of some provinces and cities in promoting their common products.

For example, the northern provinces of Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Lao Cai promote Back To Origin tourism programs; Da Nang, Thua Thien-Hue, and Quang Nam promote beach and heritage tourism; and Phan Thiet and Nha Trang promote sea tourism.

The tourism department of HCMC has finished a tourism promotion plan for 2007-2010 which aims to transform the city into a service center of the country and the ASEAN region.

* The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho will spend VND30bil organizing the national tourism year named Mekong Can Tho 2008, the organizer said.

Pham Phuoc Nhu, vice chairman of Can Tho City's People's of Committee, said at a press meeting in Can Tho last week that the money would come from the city's budget and sponsors. The grand opening ceremony of the festival will take place on February 21 next year.

The tourism festival, with the theme "Cuu Long Rural Waterways", will feature about 30 tourism events and festivals throughout the year, such as the Mekong Delta Food Festival in February, a flowered lantern festival to celebrate Liberation Day on April 30, a traditional boat race in late April, and a fruit festival.

The city will organize tours for tourists to explore the culture, history and rural scenery of the Mekong Delta. Other neighboring provinces like An Giang, Ca Mau and Kien Giang will also hold many festivals for tourists.

On the occasion, Can Tho City will inaugurate many big projects, including the Can Tho Airport and Can Tho Bridge. The Can Tho-HCMC-Hanoi air route will also be opened.