The event is expected to lure travellers to 30 top-rated tourist sites and areas in Viet Nam that have maritime tourism potential, and hundreds of travel agencies in France, Europe and Viet Nam will be in attendance.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, director of the Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Tinh said: "Besides meetings and seminars, the festival will welcome guests and introduce traditional Vietnamese culture through performances, exhibitions and other activities."

The 2009 Viet Nam Sea Festival will be an opportunity for businesses to exchange information, seek opportunities and advertise Viet Nam's image abroad. "This is the first time that such a large-scale festival has been organised in Europe. If the global economic depression shows a decrease in investment and tourism, the festival will be a bright point, promoting Viet Nam's image to the European UNI0N, as well as contributing to speeding up investment and tourism in the country", said Vietnam Airlines' General Director Pham Ngoc Minh.

Also on the occasion, Vietnam Airlines co-ordinated with tourist companies from France and Viet Nam to create two special promotional programmes for French tourists visiting from April 21 to June 19, and from August 21 to October 20, offering them a 25 per cent reduction in prices.

Bank chairman Tran Bac Ha said, "Together with opportunities to co-operate in tourism, the festival will help domestic enterprises contact investors in the EU that are interested in the nation's investment environment."

The Government would continue to promote advertising activities by paying more than US$200,000 to advertise Viet Nam's image on the BBC channel, as well as on taxies in London, after an effective campaign on CNN, Tinh said.