The opportunity to promote Hue tourism

Opportunities to promote tourism and attract investment from APEC

To introduce Hue culture-tourism

Thua Thien Hue Tourism Department said that in the framework of the APEC Year 2017 in Vietnam, Hue would host the “APEC High level Policy Dialogue on Women and the Economy”. The four-day event in Hue city will attract about 900 delegates from 21 economies. Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the Tourism Department said that this was a very good opportunity to promote, introduce the images, culture and people of Hue.

A series of activities introducing Hue will be held during and on the sidelines of the dialogue. The first highlight is "Hue Cultural Night" taking place on the evening of September 27, at the Hue Culture Museum. This program aims to introduce the culture of Vietnam in general and Hue in particular in the fields of culture, art, costume and cuisine.

The program is divided into two spaces. Firstly, the traditional ao dai, Zeng weaving of A Luoi, some traditional handicraft products... will be displayed inside the museum.The second space is also the main highlight with a show with the theme of “A Moment in Time” (“Diem Mot Thoi”), the combination of traditional ao dai of designer Si Hoang and music, dance of traditional, folk music of Hue, the North and the South. In addition, the delegates will be treated to a Hue traditional vegetarian party prepared by culinary artisan Ho Thi Hoang Anh.

Another highlight, which is supposed to surprise the delegates when they are in Hue, is the "treat" of the royal feast held inside the Citadel on the evening of September 28. The Hue Monuments Conservation Center said that the royal feast would be hosted by culinary artisan Ho Thi Hoang Anh. The preparation has been done carefully, even in case it rains that evening. "Many delegates will go to Hue for the first time, so enjoying the royal cuisine inside the Citadel is definitely an unforgettable impression. Of course, Hue royal court music performances are indispensable in the program," said Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc.

Mr. Truong Thanh Minh, Director of the Tourism Promotion Center informed that there would be 16 booths of localities in order to promote tourism and introduce traditional handicrafts at the venues of the main conference sessions. Particularly, Hue will introduce its products such as the ao dai, conical hats, truc chi (art works on bamboo paper), phap lam (a kind of enamel painting and carving on copper), finely carved woodworks...; and some specialties such as sesame candies, melaleuca oil, royal tea...

The royal feast promises to make a strong impression on the delegates attending APEC (Photo of a feast during Hue Festival)

Opportunities to attract investment

According to Mr. Truong Thanh Minh, the conference takes place for several days, so there will be many delegates and their relatives coming to Hue earlier than their related conferences. This is the opportunity to invite the delegates to experience and explore Hue. The Department of Tourism has coordinated with tour operators to design half-day and one-day tours which will be suitable for delegates’ free time, such as visiting the heritage system, listening to Hue singing (ca Hue) on the Huong river, visiting Thuy Bieu village which is in its pomelo season, visiting and experiencing farming activities, making cakes at Thanh Toan tile bridge, or one-day tours combining discovering Tam Giang and visiting ancient Phuoc Tich village…

"In particular, the Department of Tourism requires businesses to focus on organizing high quality products. The Department has contacted with tourist destinations of Ben Xuan, Cat Tuong Quan, Sailing on the river to organize programs of shows and relaxation combined with meditation. At the booths, there will be always businesses to introduce these tours so that the delegates will know and join them," said Mr. Truong Thanh Minh.

APEC is the best event to attract investment. The Department of Planning and Investment has prepared a number of handbooks containing information on investment attraction policies in general and in the field of tourism in particular to give the delegates. In addition, all information will be stored in a small and compact USB as an ATM card for visitors to store easily and read when they need. This is also a new souvenir product with the image of the Citadel presented to the delegates.

"Meeting with the managers across the country and from 21 APEC member economies helps Hue tourism get closer to these economies, via the reporting of news agencies from many countries. Businesses from other countries may not participate in the conference, but the managers will guide them to increase investment in Hue later when they go back to their countries," said Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc.

Story and photos: Duc Quang