SINGAPORE : Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said Vietnam's old imperial city of Hue could be developed into an international convention centre.

His comments came after he saw the city's sights and met local leaders. It was Mr Goh's first visit to central Vietnam.

At the Citadel, he was warmly welcomed not just by the Vietnamese, but also a group of Malaysians and Singaporeans who had driven there for a holiday.

Mr Goh was also briefed on the palace, a UNESCO Heritage site, which was home to seven emperors from the Nguyen dynasty, the country's last dynasty.

At the inner courtyards, Mr Goh was again the centre of attraction for another group of Singaporean tourists, some of whom are from his constituency.

Hue is a popular tourist site. But when it comes to foreign investments, the attention is often on the bigger cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

So in discussions with the Provincial Party Secretary, Mr Goh suggested the city could position itself as an international convention centre.

Mr Goh also encouraged Hue to promote itself as one of the must-see locations on the ASEAN tourism circuit. - CNA /ls