Russia has based its Asia national tourism office in Hanoi, Sai Gon Giai phong (Liberated Saigon) daily reported.

Russia's Asia national tourism office opens in Hanoi on April 14 (Photo: baodulich.net.vn)

The Visit Russia Asia office opened on April 14 and is the eighth overseas representative office of the country’s Federal Agency for Tourism.

It is in charge of promoting Russian tourism in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Republic of Korea.

Sergey Kornev, deputy head of the federal agency, said the office’s establishment will open up opportunities to foster tourism between Russia and regional countries.

It will attract more Asian tourists to the East European nation and provide information for Russian people interested in visiting Vietnam and other Southeast Asian destinations, he added.

Vietnam has also upped efforts to attract more Russian visitors recently.

About 108,750 Russian tourists came to the country in the first quarter of 2016, an increase of 13.5 percent compared to the same period last year. That made Russia the European country with the highest number of visitors to Vietnam.

VNA