Paris (VNA) – Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Chairman o🥃f the Vietnam Olympic Committee Nguyen Van Hung conferred the insignia “For the cause of culture, sports and tourism” on Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang at the Vietnam Cultural Centre in Paris on July 25.

The distinction recognised Thang’s substantial contributions to fostering Vietnam-France multifaceted cooperation and the cause of Vietnam’s culture, sport and tourism development during his over three years in office, Hung said. Thang said the insignia is not only a personal honour but also a testament to the collective efforts of the embassy staff and other Vietnamese diplomatic missions in promoting Vietnamese culture, sports and tourism to the French and European public. In a notable moment, Hung presented a decision reappointing Anoa Suzzanne Dussol Perran, a French national, as Vietnam's Tourism Ambassador to France for the 2024-2029 tenure. He wished that Anoa Perran would continue supporting the ministry in the new term, building on the successes in tourism development between the two countries and between Vietnam and Europe, helping to realise Vietnam’s goal of attracting 18 million visitors this year. In the afternoon, Hung presented the books “Several theoretical and practical issues on socialism and the path to socialism in Vietnam”, and “Building and developing advanced Vietnamese culture rich in national identity” by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to the centre. Another book "A Thousand Years of Vietnam's National Civilisation", a concise and comprehensive overview of the nation's cultural heritage and treasures throughout various historical periods, was also handed over to the centre. Hung hoped that through these books, the centre will introduce Vietnam’s invaluable heritage to international friends, which is also the most vivid expression to remember the beloved Party General Secretary./.