Chinese tourists will be allowed to travel throughout Vietnam from September 12 without visas, instead of visiting only seven northern cities and provinces.

Chinese people who enter Vietnam via roads, railways and seaways in the six northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai and Lai Chau, and international seaports will enjoy the new regulation issued by Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) told Xinhua News Agency on Monday.

"National tourism bodies of Vietnam and China are jointly working to raise the operating effectiveness of travel agencies of the two countries so that more Chinese visitors can enjoy tours throughout Vietnam conveniently and safely," the VNAT said.

"We are also working with airlines so that Chinese tourists can go to Vietnam by air in the near future to shorten their traveling time," it said.

After the introduction of the new regulation, Vietnam hoped to receive 1 million visitors annually from China, its biggest tourist market in recent years, said the VNAT.

In the first eight months of this year, Vietnam has hosted roughly 520,000 visitors from the Chinese mainland, or more than 27 percent of the total number of international arrivals to the country, VNAT said.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2004)