On 17 March last, the Italian Embassy in Hanoi organised an event dedicated to the presentation of the Ryder Cup, the main international golf competition that takes place every two years between Europe and the United States, which in 2023 will be hosted for the first time in Italy, from 25 September to 1 October, at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome.
At the centre of the initiative, held at Casa Italia in the presence of the Vietnamese media and of a specialised audience, was the presentation of Italy as a golf destination and Rome’s role as a strategic platform for hosting major international events in view of its candidacy for the World Expo 2030.
The event was also attended by representatives of Italian and Vietnamese tourist and sports institutions, as well as tour operators, golf associations, and travel agencies that discussed the challenges and opportunities of hosting major sporting events, the growing popularity of the golf movement in Italy and Vietnam, and the potential of both countries as golf destinations on the international scene.
Speakers included the Ambassador of Italy to Vietnam, Antonio Alessandro; Mr. Dang Ha Viet, Chairman of Vietnam Sport Administration; Mr. Nguyen Van Nam, former Ambassador of Vietnam to Italy and representative of Golfriends; Ms. Maria Elena Rossi, Global Marketing and Promotion Director of the Italian National Tourist Board (ENIT); Mr. Bui Duc Long, Chairman of VGS Group; Mr. Riccardo Tirotti, Business Development Director of Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, representing the Organising Committee for Ryder Cup 2023; Mr. Pham Thanh Tri, Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Tourism Golf Association.
As part of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Italy and Vietnam, VGS (Vietnam Golf Service) also organised a Vietnam-Italy golf tournament on 20 March in partnership with the Embassy and WLS (We Love Sport).
