HCMC – Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has written to the Chinese Culture and Tourism Ministry proposing China allow the resumption of group tours to Vietnam.

Tourism cooperation between the two countries has been a bright spot in bilateral cooperation, the ministry said in its letter.

Before the pandemic, China was Vietnam’s biggest feeder market and Vietnam was also among the top five sources of tourists to the northern neighbor.

This is a win-win relationship, so China should put Vietnam on the list to boost tourism recovery in both countries, it added.

The Chinese Culture and Tourism Ministry has announced it has allowed the organization of group tours to 20 countries and territories starting February 6 after it reopened its borders and eased quarantine measures in January.

They comprise seven countries in Southeast Asia, but Vietnam is not on the list.

Vietnam has reopened international tourism since March last year, with 3.6 million foreign tourists coming in 2022, mainly South Koreans and Americans.