Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan highly valued the initiative on tourist cooperation between the three provinces which, he said, highlighted their cultural traditions and historical relics.

He praised their achievements in tapping local potentials and creating diverse forms of tourism to create jobs and increase income for the local people.

The Deputy PM urged Yen Bai, Phu Tho and Lao Cai to focus on cooperation to build tourist sites in combination with development of special tourist products of each area in order to offer customers special and attractive tours. He also required them to pay attention to training and improving the capacity and skills of tourist staff, while raising the people’s awareness of tourism.

He asked the three provinces to expand cooperation with travel companies in the region, other provinces nationwide and foreign countries.

The opening ceremony for the programme “Returning to the Roots 2008” included a street photo exhibition, high-land market days of ethnic minority groups in the three provinces, a bonsai ornamental trees and pet spring fair, and a trade and tourist fair held from the 6 th -9 th day of the first lunar month.

The same day, a press briefing on the opening week of the National Tourism Year of the Mekong Delta’s waterways and gardens was held in Can Tho city.

The week will last from February 21-26 in Can Tho city with the opening ceremony being held on Feb. 21 in Ninh Kieu precinct. The event will attract the participation of between 15,000-20,000 people, including representatives from China , Myanmar , Thailand , Laos and Cambodia .

Can Tho city has completed preparations for the event. As many as 120 hotels, 14 tourist sites and gardens and 300 volunteer guides from the Can Tho university are ready to welcome visitors.