To realize the target, the administration will participate in the 2013 Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT-2013) held in Russia from March 20 to 23, the daily Hanoi Moi reported on January 24.

During the exhibition, Vietnamese travel agencies and localities will introduce popular sites of Vietnam, tourism products and services, especially the 2013 National Tourism Year to Russians.

Along with Japan and the Republic of Korea, Russia has emerged as a major market for Vietnam's tourism industry in recent years.

The market showed a significant increase of nearly 71.5 percent year-on-year in 2012, with 174,000 Russians visiting Vietnam. Their favourite destinations are Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces in the southern central region.

Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa has operated three daily direct flights carrying tourists from Russia’s Far Eastern region from late October until April 2013.

Between 70,000-100,000 Russian holiday-makers are expected to come to Khanh Hoa during the period.

Khanh Hoa still leads the central region in attracting Russian tourists, welcoming more than 53,000 visitors annually.