International Friends Receive Warm Welcome on Frosty Fansipan

No matter if it’s the first-time visitors or those with previous experiences, international delegates attending the 2023 International Friendship Exchange expressed their excitement when conquering the “roof of Indochina.” They all enjoy the majestic and pristine beauty of the landscape of Fansipan peak. According to many delegates, national symbolic monuments like Fansipan contribute to connecting peoples of different countries with Vietnam.

H.E. Vuyiswa Tulelo, Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Vietnam:

National symbols help to connect people from different countries

Each country has its own symbols. Referring to Vietnam, many people immediately think of Ha Long Bay or Fansipan. The guests and I are always excited to visit and admire the symbolic works of the countries.

Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa Vuyiswa Tulelo took souvenir photos in front of Do Quyen station

I have been to many places of Vietnam such as Ha Long, Nha Trang, Da Nang… It is wonderful to see the majestic and poetic beauty like a fairy scene on the highest mountain in Indochina. I kept waiting for the fog to clear to admire the surroundings. I see similarities between Fansipan – the “roof of Indochina” and Table Mountain in my homeland South Africa.

Table Mountain is located at an altitude of 1,086 meters above sea level, and was once voted by New 7 Wonders as one of the new seven natural wonders of the world in 2011. Both peaks are symbols of each country. I think these symbols help to connect people of different countries.

In the coming time, I want to go to Phu Quoc to fulfill my desire to go along the S-shaped land. Then I hope to go to each small city to understand more about Vietnamese people and culture.

This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and South Africa. The Embassy of South Africa to Vietnam has planned many commemorative activities for this special year. Besides cultural exchanges and tourism, cuisine should also be promoted to enhance people-to-people relations, because food is usually considered the door to entering the soul.

H.E. May Thet Htun, Deputy Ambassador of Myanmar:

I feel honored to touch the “roof of Indochina”

Fansipan is one of the most beautiful places I’ve been to. When I visited this place last year, it was very foggy and there was no sunshine so I could not fully admire the beautiful scenery. This year, when the fog dissipated and the sun shone, I was lucky enough to admire the majestic and pristine beauty of the Hoang Lien Son Mountain range. It is wonderful and exciting to touch the milestone marking the “roof of Indochina.”

May Thet Htun, Myanmar Deputy Ambassador, felt lucky to go to Fansipan on a sunny day

I highly appreciate that the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations hosted the international friendship exchange program in Lao Cai province. It is a good way to connect international friends with Vietnam and introduce and promote tourism in the locality.

H.E. Francisco Jo Franco Martinet, Deputy Ambassador of Argentina:

Fansipan is much more majestic than I imagined

Fansipan is much more majestic than I imagined. I am impressed with the cable system and spiritual tourism works on the peak. It is difficult to imagine how harsh it was to move the labor, construction materials, and equipment to the top of the 3,143m-high mountain in the early days. You guys have done a miracle!

Deputy Ambassador of Argentina – Mr. Francisco Jo Franco Martinet and his wife – Mrs. Natalia Jimena Podesta recorded a beautiful moment on the Fansipan cable car

I went to Ta Xua of Bac Yen district, Son La province before and I was very impressed by the nature there. The scenery is as beautiful as here, the air is fresh and cool, and the hills are rolling. I look forward to exploring more beautiful landscapes of Vietnam.

H.E. Elisa Fernandez, Chief Representative of the United Nations Agency for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) in Vietnam:

My friends are jealous that I can go to Vietnam.

I am very happy to be on the highest point of Vietnam, which is also known as the roof of Indochina. The air on the top of Fansipan is very fresh, the nature is magnificent.

Elisa Fernandez (left) took a photo next to the landmark “roof of Indochina”

In 5 years working in Vietnam, I have traveled to 44 provinces and cities of all three regions from North to Central to South. When we admire the beautiful scenery of Vietnam, we also understand more about the country and people here, thereby loving Vietnam more.

Vietnam is increasingly famous on the world map. Every time I said that I would come to Vietnam, my friends are very jealous. It is important to develop tourism in harmony with nature conservation and indigenous culture, which is both an opportunity and a challenge for Vietnam.