The Vietnamese delegation comprised representatives of Ho Chi Minh City and the localities of Da Nang, Phu Yen, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan – popular destinations for Russian tourists – and travel agencies.

Within the framework of the fair, the Vietnamese delegation organised a workshop highlighting Vietnamese-Russian cooperation in the tourism sector. The workshop introduced Viet Nam’s tourism potential and services to Russian and international tourists.

Otdykh Leisure is the largest autumn tourism expo in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (SNG), drawing leading travel agencies from all over the world. This year’s event includes representatives from Australia, Austria, Argentina, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Japan, Spain and the US, amongst others.

According to the General Statistics Office, over 22,700 Russian tourists visited Viet Nam in July, raising the total number during the first seven months of 2014 to 216,000, up by 27 percent compared to the same period last year.

In the 2009-2013 period, the number of Russians visiting Viet Nam increased 6.8-fold, from 49,000 arrivals in 2009 to 298,000 in 2013.