Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Anex Tour brought a lot of Russian tourists to Vietnam. (File photo: VOV)

Khanh Hoa province’s tourism sector has launched a program to receive 8,000 Russian tourists between December 26 and March, 2022. On Monday, Cam Ranh airport welcomed the first group of Russian tourists since the international tourist market closed in March due to COVID-19. The tourists had vaccine passports and had booked a closed package tour offered by the Anex Vietnam Trade and Tourism Company.

Since then Anex Vietnam has booked two flights a week, each carrying 300 Russian passengers, to Khanh Hoa province. It plans to book 25 flights during the pilot period.

Bui Quoc Dai, Head of the Operations Department of Anex Vietnam, said: “Russian tourists often stay up to eight days. It’s easy to track their health condition. All of them have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and they are careful about their health. In Vietnam, besides relaxing, they also want to explore the local culture. All locations meet the criteria of the closed tourism model, which transports tourists from their hotel to the tourist sites.”

Kien Giang, Quang Nam, and Da Nang have also welcomed foreign tourists since November. While visiting famous places, enjoying sports and other entertainment activities, and relaxing, the tourists follow all of Vietnam’s pandemic control measures.

A South Korean tourist visting Phu Quoc island said: “It’s gorgeous to visit Vietnam. We are having a fantastic time. We thank Vietnam for giving us a warm welcome.”

For the rest of the year, Vietnam will welcome tourists who have booked closed package tours to designated places in Phu Quoc of Kien Giang province, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Da Nang, and Quang Ninh.

In January 2022, phase 2 will expand the number of tourist destinations. In phase 3, Vietnam will fully reopen to the foreign tourists.