The unimaginatively named "The Visit Vietnam" office launched in London on February 18.

The office, the first of its kind overseas, is expected to bolster tourism cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom, according to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Quang Tung, who spoke to more than 200 guests at the grand opening. 

Tran Trong Kien, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board, added that the relationship will help introduce Vietnam’s latest tourism offerings to British travel companies to entice more visitors from the country and elsewhere in Europe.

To add to its awe-inspring cable cars, appendage bridges and thrilling museums, Vietnam has recently established a variety of entertainment offerings to attract foreign guests. At the "The Visit Vietnam" launch, Kate White, Director of Asia-Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, cited the potential impact of the upcoming F1 Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi in particular. 

The opening comes amidst fears that Vietnam will suffer a drop in tourism because of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. China accounts for the largest amount of international tourists to the country, and the ban on flights from there has led Vietnamese tourism agencies and companies to look towards other markets, including Europe. The tourism sector has been booming in recent years, with 2019 experiencing record numbers of foreign travelers.

[Photo via Flickr user Hernán Piñera]