Promoting tourism in the land of temples and pagodas.

(Baonghean) - In the early days of April, a delegation from the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee traveled to Laos and Thailand to organize a conference to promote and advertise Nghe An's tourism potential. This is not the first time the province has organized tourism promotion activities abroad, but it has brought many memorable experiences during the Bunpimay season in the country.pagodas and stupas.

We didn't waste much time going through immigration procedures in Thailand. As the car sped along Friendship Bridge 1, the bridge spanning the Mekong River connecting the Lao capital Vientiane with Nong Khai province in the Kingdom of Thailand, although no one spoke, everyone looked out the car window to admire the tranquil Mekong flowing. On both banks, charming little houses peeked out from behind the vibrant yellow of the dok khuon flowers.

In the dazzling midday sun of early April, a sudden drizzle began to fall. From the front seat of the car, Mr. Vu Van Hung, a Vietnamese expatriate from Udon Thani province, Thailand, who had volunteered to welcome the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee delegation at the border crossing, turned around and smiled broadly: "Ms. Thanh and the Nghe An delegation are so lucky! It's very fortunate to encounter rain in Laos and Thailand during the Bunpimay festival!" As soon as the car reached the foot of Friendship Bridge 1, a group of nearly 10 people were already waiting for the delegation, holding flowers.

Like Mr. Vu Van Hung, they are Vietnamese expatriates from Udon Thani province. Upon hearing that the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee delegation was coming to Thailand to organize a tourism promotion conference for the upcoming summer, they showed the delegation an unexpected warmth and hospitality the moment they set foot on Thai soil. Overwhelmed and moved, Ms. Dinh Thi Le Thanh – the female Vice Chairwoman of the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee and head of the delegation – was deeply touched and could only exclaim: "Thank you, ladies and gentlemen!" Meanwhile, Mr. Vo Viet Thanh – Member of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and Secretary of the Vinh City Party Committee – repeatedly shook hands warmly with each person.

The delegation from Nghe An province offered incense to the spirit of President Ho Chi Minh.

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh - Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An province, lays flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area in Udon Thani province.

On their first day in Thailand, the delegation was given a detailed introduction by Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand about the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area and the thatched house where Uncle Ho lived and worked during the period of 1928-1929, when he was assigned by the Communist International to operate in northeastern Thailand. Also in Noong On village, Xieng Phin commune, the patriot Nguyen Ai Quoc, then known as Thau Chin, was loved and supported by Vietnamese expatriates and the people of Thailand. Indeed, in a story about Uncle Ho, Mr. Tran Trong Tai – a member of the Memorial Area Management Board – recounted that even now, many local people come daily to light incense with heartfelt respect for a great heart and personality of the Vietnamese nation. The construction of the Ho Chi Minh Memorial was made possible not only by the unity and solidarity of the Vietnamese diaspora and the support of some domestic businesses, but also with the significant assistance and agreement of the Udon Thani provincial government and the local people. Currently, the memorial has been recognized by the Thai government as a national-level tourist site, and more importantly, the Ho Chi Minh Memorial has become a meeting point of genuine affection and solidarity between the governments and people of Thailand and Vietnam.

Mr. Trinh Van Thai, a Vietnamese expatriate from Udon Thani, introduced the martyrs' cemetery and shared with the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee delegation about the lives of Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand.

For Theravada Buddhist countries like Laos and Thailand, April marks the beginning of a new year and the arrival of the fascinating Bunpimay festival. Therefore, as if by prearrangement, the delegation from the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee visited Thailand in April, the most important month for a land where over 95% of the population is Buddhist. However, it wasn't just about ancient temples and pagodas with their dazzling golden pagodas. At Arat Temple in Chiang village (known as Ban Chich Temple by Vietnamese expatriates), about a 15-minute drive from the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Area, the delegation was again welcomed with the utmost respect and warmth by the Vietnamese community. Ban Chich Temple is also home to a cemetery for Vietnamese war martyrs. The cemetery was built by Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand in 1959. It is a place of worship for five martyrs who made significant contributions to the Vietnamese revolution abroad in the early 20th century. Notably, the cemetery is the final resting place of the patriot Dang Thuc Hua, an outstanding son of Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An province.

During his revolutionary struggle for the country and its people, Mr. Dang Thuc Hua visited Thailand. He was the first to establish a patriotic movement within the Vietnamese community in Udon Thani province in particular and Thailand in general. Currently, the martyrs' cemetery in Chich village has become an important spiritual center for the Vietnamese community in northeastern Thailand. In a warm and open atmosphere, Mr. Trinh Van Thai, a member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnamese Association of Udon Thani province, told Ms. Dinh Thi Le Thanh that while the Vietnamese community had welcomed many delegations from Vietnam, this was the first time he felt a deeper appreciation for Nghe An province and the changes taking place in President Ho Chi Minh's homeland. And as if by some special connection, he echoed the sentiments of the Vice Chairman of Nghe An province earlier: "Here, we have President Ho Chi Minh, Mr. Dang Thuc Hua, and the heroic martyrs. We are very close to our homeland." Then, as if suddenly remembering something, the 65-year-old man quickly smoothed his thinning hair and said, "There's now an air route between Vinh and Vientiane. From Vientiane to Udon Thani is only a little over 150 km. Nghe An and Udon Thani are very close now!"

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh and the Nghe An delegation were warmly welcomed by the Vietnamese expatriates in Udon Thani province.

On a gently sunny afternoon, filled with mixed emotions, no one heard what the Vice Chairwoman of Nghe An province said. Instead, they saw her silently lighting incense at the martyrs' memorial, quietly turning away to wipe her eyes with a handkerchief; attentively listening to everyone's conversations, seemingly wanting to cherish the profound moments of her first day in this northeastern region of the land of the Pagodas.

The delegation from the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee visited Thailand with the aim of organizing tourism promotion activities. From the outset, the delegation received invaluable assistance from Vietnamese expatriates and numerous agencies and organizations in Thailand. Although the conference was scheduled to open at 8:30 AM on April 5th, many tourism management agencies and travel businesses from Thailand were already present early in the morning. In fact, to organize the Nghe An tourism promotion conference in Udon Thani City, Nghe An Province, the Nghe An Provincial People's Committee had been diligently directing the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Nghe An Tourism Promotion Center, and its member units to establish connections with relevant organizations and units in Laos and Thailand.

This was also the third time since the beginning of this year that the Provincial People's Committee organized a tourism promotion event linked to the promotion of the Vinh – Vientiane international air route. However, this time, the conference was larger in scale and nature, creating a ripple effect even before the opening ceremony. Excluding the large number of Vietnamese expatriates from Udon Thani province, the conference attracted 250 delegates representing tourism management agencies and travel businesses from Laos and 20 provinces in Northeast Thailand, as well as leaders from Khon Kean province, Udon Thani city, and Udon Thani province. Particularly noteworthy was the presence of Mr. Nguyen Huu Dinh – Consul General of Vietnam in Khon Kean province and Mr. Kopket Kanchana – Deputy Governor of Udon Thani province, presiding over the event along with leaders from the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An province, which instilled confidence and enthusiasm in all attendees.

In her opening speech at the Conference, Ms. Dinh Thi Le Thanh, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nghe An Province, stated that the recent presence of Nghe An delegations in the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of Thailand demonstrates the special interest of Nghe An's leaders in bridging the spatial and temporal distances within the East-West economic corridor of Southeast Asia. This reflects the desire of the Party Committee, government, and people of Nghe An Province to integrate and expand cooperation in investment, trade, and exchange in all fields between this central province of North Central Vietnam and the culturally rich regions of Laos and Thailand, where over 95% of the population follows Buddhism.

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh also stated that many organizations and units, especially investors and tourism businesses, are succeeding in Nghe An, but there are also many people who do not know much about the province, the birthplace of President Ho Chi Minh. Therefore, this conference, in addition to connecting cultural and tourism spaces within the East-West economic corridor between Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand, also aims to promote tourism activities, introduce and publicize the tourism potential and resources of Nghe An.

The conference also heard a welcoming speech from Mr. Kopket Kanchana, Deputy Governor of Udon Thani Province. In his speech, the Deputy Governor highly appreciated Nghe An's efforts in introducing and promoting the image and potential of the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh to international friends. On the part of Udon Thani Province, the government and tourism management agencies will create all favorable conditions to support investment, trade, and tourism promotion activities of Vietnam in Northeast Thailand in general and Udon Thani Province in particular. Mr. Kopket also stated that the success of such activities will not only benefit Nghe An Province but will also be an important catalyst for the long-standing tourism industry of Thailand.

With his profound knowledge and humble demeanor, Mr. Nguyen Huu Dinh – Consul General of Vietnam in Khon Kean province – engaged in conversations with everyone in the warm and gentle manner typical of diplomats. The Consul General of northeastern Thailand affirmed that the cooperative relationship in all fields between the governments of Vietnam and Thailand has never been better than it is today. Since June 2013, after the two governments elevated their relationship to a strategic level, this has created extremely favorable conditions for Vietnam and Thailand to promote exchanges and cooperation, including tourism. The geographical proximity, transportation links, and cultural similarities between Nghe An and Udon Thani, as well as other northeastern Thai provinces, are crucial prerequisites for opening up opportunities for cooperation and development.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Dinh also said that upon learning that Nghe An was organizing a conference to promote its tourism potential in Udon Thani, many Thai travel agencies and operators came to learn more and highly welcomed this activity. However, like many others, the Consul General also stated that for Nghe An to effectively develop its tourism industry, it must first become more professional in its approach, creating integrated tourism products that are distinct from those of other localities. On the diplomatic side, the Consulate will create all conditions for Nghe An and its companies and businesses to establish business partnerships and expand the scope of tourism activities in Thailand. “That is our responsibility,” Mr. Nguyen Huu Dinh concluded his speech with a firm belief that everyone could sense.

At the conference, after hearing presentations on the tourism potential of Vinh City, Cua Lo Town, and Nam Dan District – the three key tourism clusters of Nghe An province – numerous delegates, businesses, and Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand raised many questions and offered suggestions regarding tourism activities in Nghe An. Accordingly, issues concerning policies, transportation, and tourism infrastructure were of particular interest to many delegates. Many questions revolved around destinations, service systems, and tourism product packages that Nghe An could offer visitors for sightseeing and relaxation.

One issue that many Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand are learning about for the first time and paying close attention to is the price of air tickets on the Vinh – Vientiane route. Some have even suggested to Nghe An province and Vietnam's national airline that they consider opening an international air route from Vinh to Udon Thani and vice versa. In response, the director of a Thai travel agency stated that although she is not Vietnamese, she knows that there are approximately 10,000 Vietnamese expatriates living in northeastern Thailand and Udon Thani province. This is indeed a key factor in opening a direct flight connecting Nghe An province to the center of northeastern Thailand.

The success of tourism promotion activities stems not only from goodwill or results in introducing and promoting a region, even though the conference had to extend into the early afternoon due to the interest of delegates and overseas Vietnamese. It's more than that. Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh said as we boarded the plane from Vientiane to return home: “We have many opportunities to turn expectations into reality. We are doing tourism not only to introduce and promote the potential that Nghe An possesses, or to strive for professionalism, but it is also a responsibility to our homeland and our compatriots living far from home.”

Text and photos:Dao Tuan