Deputy Chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Thu attended a ceremony to welcome the first five foreign visitors to the city at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on January 1.
The ceremony was hosted by HCMC Tourism Department and Tourism Association to greet the five including a Dutch, three Germans and a Belarusian.
Ms. Thu said she hoped that the first New Year callers would feel the hospitable and friendly atmosphere by local citizens and enjoy themselves with amusement programs and art performances.
On the same day, other big cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue province held ceremonies to receive their first international visitors from many countries in 2017.
In Hanoi, chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan was present at Noi Bai International Airport to meet the first delegation of 16 German visitors at 6 a.m.
Stating at the welcoming ceremony hosted by the Department of Tourism and Vietnam Airlines, Mr. Nhan hoped that German visitors will contribute in promoting the good cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Germany in the future.
The central province of Quang Nam welcomed 11 Spanish and Australian tourists at Chua Cau (Japanese tile-covered bridge) in Hoi An ancient town.
In the neighboring city of Da Nang, 150 nationals including Singapore, Germany, the UK and Italy were welcomed by the Department of Tourism.
The adjacent province of Thua Thien-Hue received the first two foreign visitors to Hue city where tourist agency leaders gave them souvenirs and flowers.
Hai Phong Seaport and Da Nang Seaport also hosted ceremonies to celebrate the first consignments in the New Year.
