OREANDA-NEWS. Vietnam plans to gradually reopen the tourism industry affected by COVID-19, with priority given to Russian tourists in Fukuoka from November 2021, Vietnamese Ambassador to Moscow Dang Minh Khoi said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

As previously reported, the Vietnamese authorities are preparing a program to open the tourist island of Phu Quoc, belonging to the South Vietnamese province of Kien Giang, for vaccinated foreign tourists, including Russians, from October 2021.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has seriously impacted the tourism industry in Vietnam. Vietnam is currently planning to gradually open up the tourism industry to foreign tourists, with priority given to Russian tourists from November 2021 on Phu Quoc Island. After that, we will consider opening tourist zones in some other places such as Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, "the diplomat said.

As Dang Minh Khoi noted, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Russian tourists in Vietnam grew very quickly, reaching more than 600 thousand people in 2019.

"Russian tourists are very interested in traveling to Vietnam because of its beautiful landscapes, clean beaches and friendly people, many of whom are fluent in Russian and culture," added the Vietnamese ambassador.

It was noted that, by decision of the country's leadership, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam began coordinating measures to open the island, which is popular with foreign tourists, with the ministries of health, public security, foreign affairs, defense, transport, as well as with the ministry of information and communications, they said in the message.