Phnom Penh (VNA) – A Vietnam-Ho Chi Minh City tourismpromotion programme took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on June 19, highlighting thesouthern Vietnamese metropolis’ strength in medical services.

The event, co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy inCambodia and HCM City Department of Tourism, featured screening of short videoclips on culture, food, and tourism products, notably health-related ones, in thecity; and a networking event for Vietnamese and Cambodian firms seeking mutualunderstanding and partnerships.

In her remarks, Deputy Director of the HMC City Department ofTourism Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu highlighted the city’s collaboration with andassistance for local travel businesses to complete their medical care packages.

The economic hub boasts 131 hospitals with high-qualificationhuman resources and reasonable costs for health examination and treatment, shesaid.

Minister Counsellor Ngo Van Tuat at the embassy expressedhis delight at the countries’ sound tourism partnership, as shown in thegrowing number of their people visiting the respective side.

In 2022, nearly 200,000 Cambodians came to Vietnam, ranking 4th among sources of foreigntourists to the country. In the first five months of 2023, the figure exceeded167,000, accounting for 3.63% of the total number of international visitors toVietnam. Meanwhile, Cambodia hosted more than 466,000 Vietnamese, ranking 2nd in the country’s foreign-arrival lineup. In the first three months of this year,the number of Vietnamese tourists to Cambodia reached over 200,000.

Tuat said Cambodian tourists, especially young people, oftenchoose HCM City for its dynamism, while many include medical examination and treatment at the city's modern hospitals and clinics in their trips.

The diplomat hoped that the programme will help Cambodian firmsand people know more about HCM City, opening up more business cooperation opportunities andpushing up the number of tourists to both nations.

He stated that the embassy is willing to act as a bridgeconnecting the sides in fostering their tourism partnership, contributing to strongertraditional relations and people-to-people exchange between the nations.

Prak Chandara, Under Secretary of State of the Cambodian Ministryof Tourism, said he believes in the countries’ long-term relationship and goodcooperation and solidarity, especially the bonds between their two sister cities – Phnom Penh and HCM City, will be increasinglyconsolidated and deepened./.