The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has ordered international travel companies to ensure safety for their customers following a deadly bomb attack that killed three Vietnamese tourists in Egypt on December 28.

The bus carrying Vietnamese tourists who were on a seven-day tour organised by Ho Chi Minh City-based travel agency Saigontourist

In its document No.1032/TCDL-LH, the VNAT asks the firms operating tours in Egypt to coordinate with competent authorities and partners to take security measures for their tourists. It recommends holiday-makers to avoid going to crowded and sensitive places, and travel agents to keep close watch on local authorities’ warnings.

Tour operators should consider arranging itineraries to Egypt as well as keep their customers updated with the current situation.

In case of emergency, the firms can seek help from the embassy through the hotlines 20 106 039 6518 or the citizen protection hotline 84 981 8484 84.

Three Vietnamese tourists were killed and 12 others were injured when a roadside bomb hit their bus near the world-famous Giza pyramids at 18:15 of December 28 (Egypt time). They were on a seven-day tour organised by Ho Chi Minh City-based travel agency Saigontourist.

Right after receiving the news, the company contacted its Egyptian partners and the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt to provide prompt support for the tourists.

Also on the same day, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien ordered the VNAT to work with relevant sides to clarify details on the incident.

The Egyptian Embassy in Vietnam granted visas to relatives of the Vietnamese victims of the bomb blast on December 29.-VNA