The aforementioned cooperation not only contributes to support the tourism development, but also trade activities, trade promotion and economic development of Vietnam and Korea.

The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Doan Van Viet - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors of NAPAS, Mr. Ly Xuong Can – Vietnamese Tourism Ambassador to Korea and representatives of the Board of Directors of NAPAS, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Accordingly, the cooperation agreement recognizes the coordination and exchange of information on the idea of establishing an e-tourism application platform to meet the highest interests of tourists of the two countries when making transactions in the country. This is an important basis for the two sides to exchange information and deploy simple, convenient and safe cross-border payment utilities for tourists. In addition, this strengthens communication activities and marketing programs to promote people’s habits when spending, using electronic payment methods abroad.

At the signing ceremony, Mr. Doan Van Viet - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed his pleasure at the information that the Tourism Promotion Representative Office of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in Korea has achieved a cooperation agreement with NAPAS on promoting electronic payments between the two countries. The significance of the signing ceremony is to facilitate the visit of tourists, to contribute to promoting the exchange of tourists between the two countries and to implement the Vietnamese Government’s project of non-cash payment in the period of 2021 - 2025.

On the side of NAPAS, Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung - Chairman of the Board of Directors also emphasized that NAPAS was very honored to cooperate with the Tourism Promotion Representative of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in Korea to make a contribution to promoting the trade and tourism of people in two countries. As a provider of national payment infrastructure and financial switching services, NAPAS always strived to deploy new products and services, while promoting international cooperation to expand the non-cash payment ecosystem. Thereby, when going to travel or work abroad, people can use payment services similar to those they experienced in each country, without having to convert or carry foreign currency, Mr Hung said.

On the basis of a clear understanding of the situation of Korean tours and traveling culture, Mr. Ly Xuong Can - Vietnam Tourism Ambassador in Korea also said about the preparation of non-cash electronic travel payment system in advance to bring convenience, economy and safety to visitors. Recognizing that the electronic payment system is an inevitable trend, through the prompt administrative support of relevant Vietnamese agencies and the cooperation of NAPAS, a non-cash payment system may become a reality. And in the future, when this plan is put into practice, it will make a difference with other countries and will attract tourists in the most innovative way.

Over the past time, the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Korea has been promoted by the Governments and peoples of the two countries and has achieved remarkable results as well as strong development in many fields. The tourism industry is one of the strongest exchange activities, a diplomatic bridge between Vietnam and Korea. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, since 2016, Korea has ranked second in the number of visitors to Vietnam, led the growth rate in the number of visitors. And Vietnam is also in the top 10 countries with the number of visitors to Korea.

Overcoming the difficult period of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Governments and businesses of both sides are actively implementing many cooperation activities to revive the tourism industry. Among them, it is possible to mention the signing of the memorandum of understanding on tourism promotion for the period of 2023 - 2024 between Korea National Administration of Tourism and Vietnam in 2022, the cooperation event between NAPAS and Korean financial organizations promoted digital electronic payment activities between the two countries.