In the evening of September 8, 2009 in Hanoi, a meeting was held to welcome special guests by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) and Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Attending the welcome meeting, on the Vietna side, there were presentations of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, Deputy Director General of VNAT Ms. Hoang Thi Diep; Director of International Cooperation Department of MOCST Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh; leaders of some departments and institutes from the MOCST and VNAT; and some travel businesses that relate to Japanese tourist market; on the Japanese side, there were presentations of Vice President of the JATA and Chairman of JTB Corporation Mr. Sasari; Director of Visit World Campaign of JATA Mr. Sawabe, Chairman of Jalpak Corporation Mr. Onishi, and 20 members representing for Japanese tour operators .

Minister Hoang Tuan Anh warmly welcomed Mr. Sasari, Vice President of JATA and all members of the group have visited Viet Nam. In the welcome speech at the meeting, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh introduced to the distinguished guests about the tourism potential of Viet Nam. He stressed the value of the seven World Heritage Sites and Masterpieces which have been recognized by UNESCO in Viet Nam, and 3 sites and masterpieces are being nominated to UNESCO to review as World Heritage. In particular, the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay has reached the last round of voting which is mobilized by Newopenworld Organization. Minister Hoang Tuan Anh is very happy to know that the Japanese distinguished guests will come to survey World Heritage Ha Long Bay and proposed respond to campaign vote for Ha Long Bay in Viet Nam. The minister expressed his deep gratitude to the Japanese Government and people for their helps Viet Nam in work of building the country, development cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism, and hoping that the relations in all these fields between Viet Nam and Japan are growing. MOCST in Viet Nam will always offer all favorable conditions for the establishment of bilateral cooperation relations in tourism between Viet Nam and Japan. Minister Hoang Tuan Anh wished the trip of the group a great success; and hoped that after finishing tours, the images of country and people of Viet Nam will leave good impressions to guests.

On behalf of survey group, Mr. Saraki expressed his appreciation to the respectfully, thoughtful reception of the Minister Hoang Tuan Anh and all Vietnamese members to them. Japan Tourism has respected the efforts of the Vietnamese government, especially the MOCST in establishing bilateral tourism cooperation between two sides. He also informed the Minister about the survey program, the group will visit tourist destinations in Viet Nam from North to South, in order to explore and study highlight and attractive points of Viet Nam; tourist sites that have been attracting Japanese tourists.

Mr. Saraki stressed that coming to Viet Nam this time he had experience more obviously about Viet Nam. Viet Nam is on the momentum of strong development and it has great potential in tourism. Mr. Saraki thanks to the Vietnamese government, MOCST, VNAT for many activities in promoting Japanese tourist market.

It is hoped that after this survey, the Japanese tourist market in Viet Nam will recover and more Japanese tourists will continue to come to Viet Nam.

The trip has started since September 9, 2009.