S Korea to boost investment and tourism in central Viet Nam
S Korea to boost investment and tourism in central Viet Nam
South Korea officially inaugurated its Consulate General in Da Nang on Friday, aiming to boost tourism and investment between S Korea and central Viet Nam in the coming years.
It is the second South Korean Consular General to be opened in Viet Nam after HCM City.
S Korean Ambassador to Viet Nam Park Noh Wan said Da Nang would become a centre for cultural exchange and traditional friendship between the two countries.
He said COVID-19 had stopped Korean tourists from travelling to Viet Nam, but Da Nang promised to be a popular destination in the future.
He said the resumption of flights between Viet Nam and South Korea had been discussed during a visit by the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s National Assembly Deputy Park Byeong-seug to Viet Nam earlier this week.
The Korean Consulate Office, located in Ngu Hanh Son District, will cover administration across Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue to promote tourism and investment connections between world heritage sites in central Viet Nam with popular destinations including Jeju Island, Incheon, Seoul and other parts of S Korea.
On the occasion, the Korean side also donated US$20,400 to help flood victims in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Ngai provinces.
Last month, Korea’s LG Electronics began building a R&D centre – the second of its kind in Viet Nam – at the Da Nang Information Technology Park Tower.
In 2018, the South Korea Trade and Investment Agency (KOTRA) also debuted its representative office in Da Nang.
South Korea helped Da Nang build the Viet Nam-Korea Friendship Information Technology College with Official Development Aid (ODA) of $10 million from the South Korean government in 2014.
According to the city’s Investment Promotion Agency, Korea was one of the top five foreign investors in Da Nang with 232 projects worth $390 million.
Da Nang’s export turnover reached $17 million – marking growth of 14.5 per cent – in the first half this year, while imports from Korea totalled $36.5 million.
Earlier this year, Shilla Hotels & Resorts – a new flagship hospitality corporation in South Korea – opened Shilla Monogram Da Nang with an investment of $50 million.
Both Vietnamese and South Korean airlines used to operate 12 flights weekly between South Korean cities and Da Nang, but COVID-19 has suspended tourism links between the countries.
