In the recent years, tourists from Russia are increasing rapidly thanks to visa exemption (Jan 1st, 2009) to ordinary passport within 15 days since the date of entry. Although this country has not included in the list of Vietnam's top 10 tourism market, but the goal of tourism sector is to attract 350,000 Russian tourists by 2020, increasing a three to four-fold on the current statistic.

At present, the 2 nations have been co-operating to promote Vietnamese people and images to Russian visitors as well as to survey Russian tourism trends.

Andrey Sorokin, Director in charge of the Chinese and Vietnamese markets for Capital Tour - the leading Russian agent for Viet Nam said, Vietnam is considered an ideal destination for Russian holidays and the number of arrivals to Viet Nam would top 150,000 by 2015.

With long stays and greater spending capacity than tourists from other countries, Russian visitors offered a huge potential market for the sector, therefore tourism sector need to upgrade and build new facilities, specially pay attention more to central and southern-coastal provinces.

Mr. Lam Quang Hien, Director of Binh Thuan's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said number of Russians visiting Binh Thuan are in the top of foreign visitors from 2008 up to now. In the early 9 months of 2010, the locality welcomed 62,600 Russians, accounting for one-third of province's foreign visitors. This number is forecasted that it will be increased by the end of the year as they escaped from the harsh Russian winter.

Vietnamese and Russian enterprises co-operated to build "Russian village" including many spa and resorts, hotels, restaurants, sport centers of high quality in Mui Ne tourist sites.

Meanwhile, several tourism promotional activities have been carried out in Russia such as a road show in Moscow and St Petersburg. Vietnamese companies have signed agreements with Russian partners who are highly knowledgeable about Viet Nam to invest in tourism services. They have participated in tourism fairs in many locations throughout Russia. In addition, Vladivostok Air will begin offering flights from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok to Cam Ranh Airport in Khanh Hoa Province.

Furthermore, Binh Thuan is calling for investment in upgrading an old airport to welcome tourists visiting the province, and in the future an international airport will be built in Hoa Thang (Bac Binh district).