Baku, Hanoi forge ahead in tourism cooperation with cultural and market initiatives PHOTO

On the afternoon of August 28, Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, met with Shovgi Mehdizade, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Vietnam, to discuss avenues for enhancing tourism cooperation between the two countries.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Vietnamese media, Ambassador Mehdizade extended his congratulations to the party, state, and people of Vietnam on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2.

He highlighted the long-standing friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Vietnam, established in 1959, noting that these ties continue to grow across multiple sectors, including tourism. During the May 2025 state visit of General Secretary To Lam to Azerbaijan, bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, and several key cooperation agreements were signed, identifying tourism as a priority area.

In 2025, Azerbaijan will participate for the first time in the International Tourism Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) with its own dedicated stand. In addition, a conference titled “Discover Azerbaijan” is planned at the Hanoi College of Commerce and Tourism in September.

Ambassador Mehdizade emphasized that cultural and tourism exchanges have contributed to Vietnam’s growing popularity among Azerbaijani citizens, particularly young people. Each year, Azerbaijan organizes the “Vietnam Days” program, featuring Vietnamese artists, scientists, and business professionals, which fosters cooperation in culture, cuisine, music, and interpersonal exchanges. The ambassador praised the support and coordination of the Vietnamese side and expressed hope for further development in delegation exchanges and tourism promotion activities.

At the reception, Director Nguyen Trung Khanh expressed gratitude to the ambassador for his contributions to strengthening tourism ties. He underscored the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Azerbaijan, noting that Azerbaijan has supported the training of multiple generations of Vietnamese specialists, particularly in the oil and gas sector—a foundation for expanding bilateral cooperation.

Director Nguyen highlighted that while Vietjet Air currently operates several charter flights between the two countries, their frequency remains limited. Expanding flight volumes and establishing regular direct services are considered key to promoting tourist exchanges.

On tourism specifically, he noted a significant demand for mutual tourist exchanges. Vietnamese tourism products are well-suited to the Azerbaijani market, but challenges remain due to limited direct flights and sources of information. Azerbaijan’s participation in ITE HCMC 2025 with its own stand is viewed as an important first step toward building market ties and developing cooperation.

Director Nguyen confirmed that the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is ready to work closely with the Azerbaijan Tourism Administration to sign a formal cooperation agreement in the tourism sector. He also expressed hope that both sides would strengthen tourism promotion and facilitate the expansion of direct flights to attract more visitors.

Representatives from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will participate in the “Discover Azerbaijan” seminar, and the embassy will soon provide a contact person to ensure effective coordination.

By Tamilla Hasanova