At the event, Tran Xuan Toan, Vice President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, announced the official founding of the branch. The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association’s branch at Saigontourist Group would be led by Pham Huy Binh, Chairman of the Saigontourist Group's board of members.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, President of the Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association Nguyen Phuoc Loc said the event establishing the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association at Saigontourist Group took place on the 64th birthday anniversary of Emperor Naruhito. Saigontourist Group branch establishment has brought the total number of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association’s branches to 26 units.

According to Loc, cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Japan is consistently acknowledged as one of the most significant achievements in Vietnam-Japan cooperation. Currently, Japan is Ho Chi Minh City's fifth trading partner, export market, and third largest investor. As of November 2023, Ho Chi Minh City had 1,657 Japanese investment projects worth 5.7 billion USD, accounting for 10% of the city's total foreign investment capital. The relations between Ho Chi Minh City and Japanese localities and partners are always high on the city's priority list.

President of the Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association Nguyen Phuoc Loc and Consul General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City Ono Masuo present the decision to establish the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association's branch at Saigontourist Group. (Photo: thanhuytphcm.vn)

This event has an important meaning, marking a new development step in the partnership between Saigontourist Group and Japanese partners, noted Pham Huy Binh.

"With the establishment of the Association's branch, and with the support of Ho Chi Minh City's Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association, we believe that the cooperative relationship between Saigontourist Group and the tourism and service businesses of Ho Chi Minh City and its Japanese partners will continue to strengthen, consolidate, and develop. This would help to strengthen the friendship and collaboration between the two nations in general, as well as the development of the Vietnam-Japan tourism business in particular,” stated Binh.

Saigontourist Group, through the Association's branch, continues to carry out tourism promotion activities between the two countries in the fields of accommodation, travel, cuisine, events, fairs, and entertainment, as well as replicating the model of cooperation between Vietnamese and Japanese enterprises. As a result, unique incentive packages are being developed for Japanese visitors visiting Vietnam as well as the Japanese people living and working in Vietnam.

To mark the launch of the Association's branch and to continue attracting the Japanese tourist market, from March 1 to December 31, 2024, over 70 hotels, resorts, restaurants, entertainment areas, and tour companies under Saigontourist Group's operations will offer special promotions on bedroom services, dining, and sightseeing tours for Japanese visitors to Vietnam and the community of Japanese citizens currently living and working in Vietnam.

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