Sydney: In a move to strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange expertise, a delegation from the northern border mountainous province of Cao Bang, Vietnam, visited Niagara, Canada. The visit focused on learning from Niagara’s experience in cross-border trade and tourism development. At an investment promotion conference held during the trip, Cao Bang officials underscored their interest in forming partnerships to bolster their border economy and tourism services.

According to Vietnam News Agency, The province of Cao Bang, looking to emulate Niagara’s success as a border economic zone and a tourist destination, finds Niagara’s experience highly relevant and beneficial. Niagara’s strategic location between Canada’s industrial centers and the major cities of the United States, coupled with its fame as a tourist destination with waterfalls drawing millions of visitors, makes it an ideal model for Cao Bang. During the visit, IBT College, representing the Niagara Economic Development Committee, signed a cooperation agreement with Cao Bang. This agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of study tours and the training of tourism personnel for Cao Bang.

James Rice, Vice President of IBT College, spoke to the Vietnam News Agency’s reporter in Canada, comparing Cao Bang’s Ban Gioc waterfall to Niagara Falls in its earlier days. He sees this as a significant opportunity for Vietnam to develop the region in the future. IBT College is working closely with Cao Bang to establish an educational facility focused on training tourism services for local tour guides, restaurant, and hotel employees. Tran Thu Quynh, Trade Counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada, noted that the cooperation between Cao Bang and Niagara supports both regions in exploiting waterfall tourism and managing cross-border resources and trade. The Vietnam-Canada trade turnover reached 7 billion USD in 2022 and is projected to hit 10 billion USD in the coming years, with Vietnam being Canada’s top trading partner in the ASEAN.