Many tours will be offered at low prices at the Vietnam International Travel Mart – VITM Hanoi travel expo according to local travel agencies.

The annual event, which will be opened in Hanoi from April 14-17, is intended to draw more international tourists to Vietnam as well as increase the number of domestic visitors to sea and island areas.

The fair, which opens close to the coming Reunification Day and May Day holidays takes place on the threshold of the summer holiday season.

According to the organiser, some 3,000 travel companies will participate at the event which they claim could attract around 62,000 visitors.

Several travel agencies have expressed hopes to sell more tours this year than previous fairs. Some are offering discounts of up to 60% on some tours.

Director of Hanoi-based Hon Gai Travel Company, Do Xuan Ngoan, said that they would provide discounts of 50-60% on many tour package.

"We'll offer discounts on some domestic tours and to Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, and Japan we’ll cut prices on packages by VND 3 million.

Vietrantour's vice director, Pham Thi Bich Ngoc also said that they have been negotiating to lower prices by between 5 - 18.5%.

Vietnam has become an emerging outbound market. More than 5 million Vietnamese travel overseas annually, representing a growth rate of 15 percent. Many countries see Vietnam as a new market to tap.