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To offer opportunities to experience the diverse facets of India in culture, cuisine, nature, health, and especially religion, the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (INCHAM), organized the "Experience India in Wonders" Roadshow in Ho Chi Minh City on November 27th. The event was held in the context of the launch of direct flights between India and Vietnam by Indian airline IndiGo and Vietjet Air.
The networking meeting was attended by over 150 guests, including representatives from government agencies and 50 tourism and trade companies from Vietnam and India.
In 2018, the number of tourists between India and Vietnam was approximately 163,700. Of these, 31,408 Vietnamese tourists visited India, a 32% increase compared to the previous year. In 2018, approximately 132,371 Indian tourists visited Vietnam, a 21% increase compared to the previous year.
In response to this development, IndiGo has started direct flights between Hanoi and Kolkata, and Ho Chi Minh City and Kolkata, which commenced operations last October. Vietjet Air will also launch direct flights from New Delhi to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this coming December. Therefore, by the end of this year, two major Indian cities will be connected to two Vietnamese cities by direct flights.
Indigo Airlines began operating flights on the Hanoi - Kolkata and Ho Chi Minh City - Kolkata routes last October.
During the exchange, Mr. Pranay Verma, the Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, emphasized that with the launch of direct flights by IndiGo and Vietjet Air, the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will be further strengthened, especially in the areas of trade, investment, culture, tourism, and exchange.
Mr. Pranay Verma - Ambassador of India to Vietnam.
Venerable Thich Thien Tam, PhD, Vice Chairman of the Executive Council of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, mentioned India as the cradle of Buddhism and its profound understanding of Buddhist thought in Indian ethics. He hoped that many Buddhist pilgrims from Vietnam would have the opportunity to visit India.
Along with ancient Buddhist heritage associated with the life of Buddha, Indian temples, palaces, and forts, India's Buddhist heritage is of great interest to Buddhists worldwide. India is also the land of Yoga and Ayurveda, making it a great destination for wellness tourism.
The Indian government has cut the e-visa fee by 75%, from $100 to $25.
To promote tourism development between the two countries, the Indian tourism industry also offers significant incentives for tourists from Vietnam. Specifically, the Indian government has reduced the e-visa fee by 75%, from $100 to $25, and accommodation costs have also become cheaper as the Indian government has drastically reduced service taxes. Direct flights by Indigo and Vietjet Air have also reduced round-trip airfares by 50% for routes to Vietnam.
