Viet Nam, South Korea sign 8 documents in tourism, culture

The documents include a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on tourism promotion in the 2025-2026 period between the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism and the Korea Tourism Organization; four MoUs between the national flag carrier Viet Nam Airlines and its Korean partners including Hana Tour, Interpark Triple, Mode Tour, and Yellow Balloon Tour; and a MoU on research, information connection and cooperation in promoting tax refund policies for foreign tourists.

A three-party MoU was inked between Ho Guom investment tourist and import export company, Viet Nam-Korea Business & Investment Association, and Hoju Pacific Tours (HPT Group).

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the strong development of tourism and culture cooperation between the two countries, calling it a bright spot of the bilateral ties.

From August 15, 2023, Viet Nam has extended the stay duration for Korean tourists to 45 days from 15 days, and e-visa is valid for up to 90 days.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea has emerged as Viet Nam's biggest source of tourists. In the first half of this year, Viet Nam welcomed nearly 2.2 million Korean visitors. For every 10 international tourists in the Southeast Asian nation, there are three Koreans.

The same occasion, Viet Nam Airlines marked 30 years of direct flights between the two nations.

Over the past three decades, the national flag carrier has run 65,000 flights, transporting 15 million passengers and 291,300 tons of cargo between the two nations. The airline now operates six direct routes linking Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City with South Korea's Seoul and Busan as well as Da Nang city and Cam Ranh city of Khanh Hoa province with Seoul, with 112 flights per week./.