On January 18, the Tourism Newspaper, under the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, announced 10 prominent activities and events of the country’s tourism in 2010. This is the result of an election by reporters, managers, and experts in the field of tourism.

1. Greeting 5 million foreign tourist arrivals, 28 million domestic tourist arrivals, with estimated revenue of VND 96 trillion. Vietnam’s tourism sector reached a record growth in the number of foreign tourists

2. Celebrating 50 years of establishing the tourism sector (July 9, 1960), affirming the key role of the sector, contributing to national economic development.

3. The tourism stimulus program: “Vietnam – Your destination” included seven campaigns, such as: launching a discount campaign in the low season and on-the-spot campaign with the motto, “Vietnam - warmly welcoming you” and promoting the campaign to vote for Halong Bay.

4. National Tourism Year 2010 in Hanoi with various activities, such as: “Hanoi people receive guests”, “Green Tourism Year” and the Thang Long – Hanoi International Tourism Festival 2010.

5. Submitting a strategy to develop Vietnam’s tourism by 2020, with a view to 2030 and plans to develop the country’s tourism in the 2011-2020 period to the Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. The strategy targets making tourism into a spearhead economic sector and become more professional.

6. The campaign of promoting tourism in China, Pacific, Western Europe and Southeast Asia marked gigantic progress in the quality of promotion and advertising activities abroad.

7. The tourism channel on Vietnam was opened on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi

8. The national seminar titled: “Developing Vietnam’s tourism in the context of proactive international integration” and the international seminar titled: “Tourism – important momentum for socio-economic development”.

9. The tour to plant national flag on Fansipan peak on the occasion of the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long – Hanoi.

10. The International Tourism Exhibition (ITE) 2010 was held in Ho Chi Minh City. The biggest trade and tourism event in Vietnam, Lao and Cambodia was organized from September 30 to October 2 and was attended by 236 units from 16 countries.