The Chinese Government's decision to add Vietnam into the list of countries that can receive groups of Chinese tourists from March 15 is expected to further promote the recovery and development of tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

China was the largest tourism market of Vietnam before COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In 2019, Vietnam welcomed 5.8 million Chinese visitors, accounting for nearly 30% of total foreign tourists in Vietnam. Meanwhile, 4.5 million Vietnamese traveled to China in the year.

The reopening of group tours to Vietnam has been welcomed by Chinese people and travel firms.

Li Yushan, a Chinese who had visited Vietnam, said that this is good news for her as she has brilliant experiences in Vietnam and loves Vietnamese destinations and food. Li said she will take her family and friends to Vietnam soon.

Meanwhile, Xu Xingwei, director of a local travel firm in Beijing, said that he hoped authorised agencies of both sides will promptly give favourable conditions in procedures for tourism activities.

Welcoming the Chinese Government's decision, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said that the resumption of group tours from China to Vietnam will create momentum for the promotion of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, positively contributing to boosting bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, and deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Highlighting the sound collaboration in tourism between the two sides before COVID-19 broke out, the diplomat held that China's reopening of group tours to Vietnam will help the tourism sectors of both countries speed up their recovery and development, benefiting both sides and contributing to fostering friendship between the two nations.