Sri Lanka eager to welcome Vietnamese tourists

Sri Lanka is a country covering over 65,600sq.km with a population of 21 million. Located in the Indian Ocean, it connects the East and the West through sea routes. This island nation boasts pristine beaches, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, and lush green forests. Sri Lanka has the highest density of waterfalls globally, with 350 waterfalls, along with 26 national parks and tropical forests.

Sri Lanka is known as a destination where all four seasons are ideal for adventures, with exceptional terrains and climate. It is also an excellent ecotourism spot, featuring a rich diversity of flora and fauna across vast natural landscapes. Adding to its charm are cascading waterfalls, lush tea-covered hills, ancient villages, and misty mountains veiled in fog.

Sri Lanka, an island nation full of attractions - Photo: New World Travel

Home to seven UNESCO-recognized world heritage sites, Sri Lanka is a place where stunning wonders are encapsulated on a small island. This island takes immense pride in six cultural sites that stand as human heritage left over the past 2,000 years, such as the Cultural Triangle, which links the ancient cities of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Kandy. Anuradhapura is one of Asia’s largest monastic cities, while Sigiriya, the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” is among the most remarkable archaeological sites, showcasing a magnificent rock fortress. There is also the impressive Dutch Fort.

Sri Lanka is also a land of traditional handicrafts. Exquisite crafts are made from silver, brass, wood, leather, and bamboo. Additionally, this island nation is home to some of the finest spices in the world and top-quality tea, uniquely blended and prepared by each family in their own distinct way.

Sri Lanka boasts a rich culinary culture that has existed for over 3,000 years. A variety of curries are available due to the influence of colonization. The country offers authentic and distinctive vegetarian and vegan dishes. With four major ethnic groups, visitors to Sri Lanka can experience year-round festivals, featuring vibrant events from Buddhism to Hinduism, Islam, and Christianity.

In 2019, The Lonely Planet magazine honored Sri Lanka as the best travel destination. That same year, the country was listed among the world’s 15 best islands for travel and relaxation. Conde Nast Traveler recognized Sri Lanka as a top travel destination in February 2020. USA Today ranked Sri Lanka as the top country for winter travel in 2020, while CNN Travel named it the best place to visit in 2020.

Sri Lanka also became a top emerging travel destination worldwide in 2020 and was recognized as Asia’s leading adventure destination from 2017 to 2020. National Geographic and Living magazines honored Sri Lanka in the top 20 most exciting travel adventures for 2024. Furthermore, Sri Lanka was recognized as the fastest-growing travel destination in 2024.

Sri Lankan Ambassador to Vietnam Poshitha Perera introduces Sri Lankan tourism - Photo: Hoa Quynh

At a briefing to introduce Sri Lankan tourism to Vietnamese media agencies, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Vietnam Poshitha Perera stated that despite its abundant tourism potential and reputation as an attractive destination in Asia, Sri Lanka remains unknown to many Vietnamese tourists. “Sri Lanka’s tourism sector is back on track and is eager to welcome visitors, especially those from Vietnam. We want to invite our Vietnamese friends to Sri Lanka and make it their next travel destination. We hope tourism will become a channel for fostering people-to-people exchange between our two countries,” emphasized Ambassador Poshitha Perera.

Notably, the Ambassador shared that Sri Lanka’s transportation infrastructure is well-developed with a network of buses and railways that facilitates convenient travel for tourists exploring areas of pristine, majestic natural beauty. There are numerous domestic flights, taxis, and tuk-tuk services for tourists to choose. “Currently, around 800 travel agencies are ready to offer safe and luxurious travel experiences,” the ambasswador added.