Chinese people who enter Vietnam via roads, railways and seaways in the six northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai and Lai Chau, and international seaports will enjoy visa-free travel beginning September 12.

Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security issued the new regulation.

"National tourism organizations of Vietnam and China are jointly working to raise the operating effectiveness of travel agencies of the two countries so that more Chinese visitors can enjoy tours throughout Vietnam conveniently and safely," the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said. "We are also working with airlines so that Chinese tourists can go to Vietnam by air in the near future to shorten their traveling time."

Vietnam hopes to receive 1 million visitors annually from China, its biggest tourist market in recent years.

According to VNAT, in the first eight months of this year Vietnam hosted roughly 520,000 visitors from the Chinese mainland, or more than 27 percent of the total number of international arrivals to the country.

(Xinhua News Agency September 7, 2004)