Vietnam's National Tourism Year 2015 will be launched in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa on April 3, with the theme "Connecting World Heritage".

The opening ceremony will be broadcast live on national and local television channels, which will introduce a number of UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage sites and popular tourism destinations in Vietnam, while highlighting the country's key cultural events and links in tourism development among localities with world heritage sites.

The tourism strength and potential of Vietnam in general and Thanh Hoa in particular will be promoted to visitors through the event, to encourage all walks of life to join hands in preserving and upholding the value of world heritage sites and fostering sustainable tourism development.

After the week finishes, the program will run throughout the year in the province. It will have the participation of 15 other cities and provinces that house world heritage sites, such as Hanoi and Phu Tho and Quang Ninh provinces.

Notable events include a marine tourist festival in late April, an international stone sculpture camp in May, a cuisine festival in June, and cultural and art festivals over the course of the year.

The National Tourism Year 2015 is a great opportunity for Thanh Hoa to popularize its tangible and intangible cultural values and its beautiful landscapes as well as those of Vietnam, to promote the national and provincial image.

Vietnam is home to 22 world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, including two natural heritage sites (Ha Long Bay and Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park), five cultural heritage sites (the Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty, the Complex of Hue Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town, and My Son Sanctuary), and one mixed heritage site (Trang An Landscape Complex).