Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan told a visiting Chinese tourism official here on Monday that Vietnam will train more Chinese-speaking tour guides to attract Chinese visitors to the country.

In the meeting with Head of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) Shao Qiwei, Nhan said Vietnam will further develop infrastructure and improve tourism service to attract more Chinese tourists.

Vietnam is also planning to develop cruise travel to diversify its tourism products, said Nhan.

Shao said China is ready to enhance tourism cooperation and exchanges with Vietnam. China would like to cooperate with Vietnam in cruise travel development.

Shao said China also expects to cooperate with Vietnam on souvenir production and tourism-related equipment manufacturing.

Statistics from Vietnam National Administration of Tourism showed that in the first six months of this year, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam increased by 92.5 percent to 437, 000. The country is expected to attract over 1 million Chinese tourists this year.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2010)