Vietnam

A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar at 1:20pm on 28 Mar affected high-rise buildings in Hanoi and HCMC. In Hanoi, there were violent shaking lasting minutes, swaying chandeliers, and widespread panic as residents evacuated. In HCMC, tremors were reported in District 1, Phu Nhuan, and District 11, prompting many to leave buildings for safety

The Trump Organisation, in partnership with Kinhbac City, is planning multi-billion-dollar investments in Vietnam, including golf courses, hotels, and real estate projects. The first one, worth $1.5 billion USD, will break ground near Hanoi in May 2025, including three 18-hole golf courses and a residential complex. 2 golf courses are expected to be operational by mid-2027. A second project near HCMC is under consideration, with an announcement expected by the end of 2025. A spokesman for the consortium said that it is evaluating 3 or 4 additional investments across Vietnam

Grab Vietnam and the Tourism Development Support Fund signed a 5-year MoU, focusing on promoting and developing Vietnam’s tourism industry through digital transformation. Grab will serve as a preferred transportation and e-commerce partner, providing services such as ride-hailing, food delivery, cashless payments, and logistics to improve visitor experiences. Both sides will also collaborate with travel agencies to develop International Travel Packages

Quang Ninh province plans to host 170 events in 2025, including 24 international, national, and provincial-level programmes and 146 local events. By early 2025, around 50 events have taken place, with 13 others scheduled by late Mar. During the 30 Apr-1 May holiday, activities include the Ha Long Carnival 2025, national sports championships, cultural fairs, and an art programme. Tourist arrivals are expected to surge in May and June, particularly in coastal areas like Ha Long, Van Don, Co To and Mong Cai

According to the HCMC Department of Tourism: - Historical tourism accounts for 41% of HCMC’s tourism GDP - 56% of international tourists and 28% of domestic tourists are drawn to cultural tourism - Tens of thousands of visitors, both local and international, visit these historical sites monthly. Notable sites include Cu Chi Tunnels, Independence Palace, and Sac Forest - Can Gio Resistance Base

The Hue city’s People Committee held the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year - Hue 2025 and Hue Festival 2025, with the participation of over 800 performers, including international art troupes from China and South Korea. The festival features over 170 national and provincial events across four seasons in 2025, expected to attract 4.8-5 million visitors, with 38–40% being international tourists. Tourism revenue is expected to reach $423.57-439.26 million USD

From 10-13 Apr, the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2025 will take place in Hanoi, with the participation of 450 booths, 60 tourism promotion agencies, 8 airlines, 16 countries and territories, and over 600 businesses. Activities include B2B and B2C meetings, showcasing tourism products, destinations, technologies, and trends. Visitors to the event can enjoy promotions on tours, flights, hotels, and OCOP products, showcasing destinations across Vietnam. Over 1,200 appointments were made through the system. On 11 Apr, a forum titled "Developing Green Destinations, Elevating Vietnam’s Tourism", with discussions focused on green tourism business models, market expansion, and digital transformation in tourism, is expected to attract 300 delegates

Phu Quoc Island welcomed over 2 million visitors in Q1 2025, including 474,468 foreign tourists, +66.5% YoY. Kien Giang province attracted over 3.1 million tourists in Q1, achieving 28.4% of its annual target, +13.7% YoY, with tourism revenue reaching over $508.68 million USD, +79.4% YoY. The province is strengthening ties with domestic and international partners and exploring new maritime transport routes to Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia

Dak Lak province has shifted to ethical elephant tourism, focusing on humane experiences rather than rides. Tourists can engage in activities like feeding elephants, and joining health blessing ceremonies. The province has 35 domesticated elephants, mostly over 40 years old, facing threats such as declining breeding rates, shrinking grazing lands, and habitat conflicts. By 2026, elephant rides will be replaced with eco-tourism activities

Indochina Research survey, with data collected from over 300 foreigners in Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, and Can Tho, revealed that: - Expertise of medical professionals (53%) is the top consideration for choosing medical facilities, followed by infrastructure quality (48%) and patient care services (40%) - Most foreign visitors use medical services for health check-ups (48%), dental care (39%), and general consultations (38%). - A significant 87% of respondents intend to continue using Vietnam’s medical services, particularly for dental care (59%) and health check-ups (58%) - Vietnam’s medical services are known for affordability and a strong network of private hospitals

On 21 Mar, the French Minister of Transport and Vietnamese Minister of Construction met in Hanoi to discuss development in transport sectors, including railways, maritime, aviation, and urban transport; and bilateral support in aviation management, business facilitation for airlines, and training programmes for aviation personnel. The French Minister said that French businesses are interested in Vietnam’s North-South high-speed railway project and seek to expand cooperation with Vietnamese partners

Phong Nha in Quang Binh province topped Agoda's list of the most affordable spring travel destinations in Asia for Apr and May 2025, with an average room rate of 715,000 VND per night. The list is based on average room prices in 20 popular destinations across 9 Asian markets

During an inspection visit, the Prime Minister directed Long Thanh International Airport to be completed by 31 Dec 2025. He suggested a metro line connecting Long Thanh Airport with Tan Son Nhat International Airport to ensure long-term connectivity

On 18 Mar, the Meet The Experts (MTE) conference, aimed at the real estate and hospitality sectors, took place in HCMC. The event was organised by WeHub, Savills Hotels, partners; and attracted 60+ industry leaders, 1,000+ participants, including investors, hotel owners, management companies, and consultants. In 2024, international arrivals to Nha Trang were +125% YoY. According to the Head of SE Asia Hotel Advisory and creator of the MTE series, international tourist arrivals to Vietnam are rebounding to pre-COVID levels. He added that nationwide hotel occupancy increased by 15% points, and room rates rose by around 5%, driven by the luxury segment

Truc Bach Ward in Hanoi is piloting an initiative to provide free restrooms for pedestrians and tourists. Local restaurants and accommodation facilities offer these free-of-charge toilets, marked with a "Free Restroom - Make Yourself At Home" logo

From 28 Mar-1 Apr, the Da Nang Food Tour Festival will take place, featuring over 200 unique dishes from across Vietnam, featuring a chef competition, performances, and a food tour. About 5,000 “cuisine passports” will be issued, offering 10% discounts at food courts and redeemable for gifts. Bookings through Traveloka x Danang Food Tour until 31 May include food vouchers with 20-30% discounts

According to Klook’s Travel Pulse Research, focusing on Millennials and Gen Z’s attitudes towards travel, in Vietnam: - 56% of travellers agree that time is the main barrier to travel - 88% feel restricted in their opportunities to travel - For Gen Z, financial constraints (50%) are the second biggest barrier to travel, while Millennials highlight work commitments (47%) - 91% allocate up to half their budget to experiences rather than flight expenses - Gen Z prefers off-the-beaten-path destinations, adventure tours, and digital detox retreats - Millennials value eco-friendly travel experiences - Popular destinations for Vietnamese travellers in 2025 include Japan, Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Mainland China, and Australia

From 11-13 Apr 2025, the 2025 Hanoi Tourism Gift Festival will take place at Tran Nhan Tong pedestrian street and surrounding areas in Hai Ba Trung District, featuring 80 booths. The event includes promotional activities and cultural events to introduce traditional culture and tourism to visitors

According to Agoda’s 2025 Sustainable Travel Survey: - 77% of Vietnamese travellers consider sustainability important in their 2025 travel choices, placing them among Asia's top 5 most sustainability-conscious travellers, exceeding the Asian average of 68% - Over 25% of Vietnamese travellers prioritise authentic tourism, while 19% aim to support local economies during their trips - 22% prefer off-peak travel to reduce crowding - 21% choose accommodations with sustainability certifications - 15% pack reusable items to minimise waste

In Jan & Feb 2025, Tay Ninh welcomed over 1.4 million visitors, +1.4% YoY, with tourism revenue reaching 1.1 trillion VND, +47% YoY. Revenue from accommodation, food, beverage, and related services totalled 2.3 trillion VND, +5.3% YoY. As of 8 Mar, the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area served 2 million cable car passengers. From 6-8 May, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in HCMC and Tay Ninh will host the United Nations Day of Vesak at the Ba Den Mountain, with the participation of over 2,000 delegates from 80 countries and territories. From 25-31 May, the 2nd Art of Vegetarian Cooking Festival will also take place in the province. From the fourth to the sixth day of the fifth lunar month, the Linh Son Thanh Mau Festival will also be held

On 28 Mar, a new high-speed boat service between HCMC and Con Dao Islands will begin operating once daily

Vietnam Airlines will resume direct flights between Hanoi and Moscow on 8 May, after a 3-year suspension, with 2 flights per week initially, increasing to 3 from Jul 2026. In 2024, over 220,000 passengers travelled between Vietnam and Russia, a 2.3-fold increase compared to 2023, and only 26% of 2019 levels. In 2025, Vietnam Airlines aims to launch and resume 15 international routes, including destinations in Italy, Russia, Denmark, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates

The Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam met with the CEO of Satguru Travel to discuss enhancing tourism, foster cooperation, and implement joint programmes between Armenia and Vietnam

According to a study, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province has an economic value of $213 billion USD, based on 4 pillars: natural ecosystem; cultural and historical significance; heritage-based settlements and livelihoods; and brand spillover value

In the recent report, the World Bank (WB) raised Vietnam's real GDP growth forecast for 2025 to 6.8%, 0.2 percentage points higher than its Jan projection but below the Government's 8% target. The 2026 GDP growth forecast was also revised up to 6.5% (previously 6.3%). The WB Director for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos said that the growth outlook is supported by a recovery in domestic demand but faces risks from global economic uncertainties, and trade disruptions

Vietnam’s Kon Tum province and Laos’ Attapeu province will upgrade the Dak Long-Vang Tat border gate to a main one, which should speed up infrastructure development and boost tourism and economic ties between the two regions

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), in Feb 2025, Vietnam welcomed nearly 1.9 million international tourists. South Korea and China accounted for over 44% of international arrivals, with 468,000 and 380,000 tourists respectively. Other large contributions are from Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia, India, and Russia (returned to the top 10 with over 79,000 visitors). The number of tourists from Poland was +54.2% YoY and from Switzerland was +14.2% YoY. In Feb 2025, Vietnam also received around 11 million domestic visitors, including 3.8 million overnight stays

Households and government offices around Hoan Kiem Lake will be relocated to build a square-park, and underground space with 3 basement levels connecting to Metro Line 2. Affected households may receive compensation with land in Dong Anh District. The Dong Anh District People's Committee will review around 100 hectares of land for resettlement purposes. Plans for multi-functional underground spaces include public services, culture, commerce, and infrastructure

On 11 Mar, a tourism promotion conference was held in Moscow, with 130 delegates representing Russian and Vietnamese businesses. Nha Trang accounts for up to 50% of Russian visitors to Vietnam. However, Russian tourist arrivals in Vietnam declined in the past 3 years due to the pandemic. Vietnam accounts for 35% of the Russian company One Click Travel’s revenue, with plans to strengthen partnerships, including press tours and influencer trips to promote Vietnam to Russian travellers

Quang Ninh province attracted over 26,000 international cruise visitors in early 2025, primarily from Europe, the Americas, and Northeast Asia. Many ships now stay overnight at Ha Long International Cruise Port, giving tourists more time to explore local attractions. The first charter cruise, Pacific World, operated by Japan’s Peace Boat, will arrive in Quang Ninh on 30 Apr 2025, bringing 1,600 Japanese tourists. Cruise arrivals are projected to grow by 15–20% annually, with increasing visits from international cruise lines

Vietravel and Sun World signed an MoU for strategic cooperation, aiming to attract at least 120,000 visitors to Sun World sites in 2025. Under the MoU, Vietravel is now Sun World's main distribution partner, handling ticket sales and creating tour packages featuring Sun World’s entertainment complexes for domestic and international markets. Exclusive perks for Vietravel’s customers include free entry for MICE groups of 300 or more, and fixed discounts and promotions for loyal travellers. The 2 sides will also launch multi-channel campaigns on digital, social, and mass media platforms; and collaborative events such as roadshows and fam trips

Lam Dong Museum launched a 3D virtual tour, allowing visitors to explore the history and development of the province. The tour features over 200 signature exhibits from the museum's 12,000 items, showcase artefacts from Cat Tien and Phu My archaeological sites, and photos of the province's natural beauty and achievements

The Cat Ba Islands were chosen as the filming location for a new 9-episode series by Riot Games, with filming starting in late 2025 and will be broadcast on platforms like Netflix and HBO. In Jan & Feb 2025, Cat Ba attracted 280,000 tourists, including nearly 180,000 international visitors, generating around 10 million USD in revenue. In 2024, the number of international visitors to the islands was estimated at over 1 million, +90.5% YoY

TravelInsurance.com.au’s report showed that 1/3rd of Australians’ international trips in 2025 will be to Southeast Asia. The data shows demand to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia is expected to surge by 42% in 2025, and Southeast Asia is expected to attract 4 million Australian tourists

Vietnam’s Dak Lak province and Lao’s Attapeu province have signed a cooperation agreement that includes tourism

From 29 Mar - 7 Apr, the Hung Kings Temple Festival will take place in Phu Tho province, with organisers anticipating 4 million visitors. Activities include incense offerings, a palanquin procession, performances, cake wrapping and pounding competitions, and ethnic sports programmes. The Deputy Chairman of the Phu Tho Province's People’s Committee encouraged collaboration with travel companies to create attractive tourism products for attendees

The Nha Trang City People's Committee approved a green and sustainable community tourism project for Bich Dam, located in Vinh Nguyen Ward. The project targets to attract 45,000 tourist arrivals annually, to be recognised as a community tourism destination by the provincial People's Committee by 2025, and establish 8–10 community tourism businesses by 2030. The authority will promote tourism products combining eco-tourism and community tourism

According to the Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia, from 1 Jan - 10 Mar 2025, over 80,000 Russian tourists visited Vietnam. In 2025, 400,000–500,000 Russian tourist arrivals are expected, with a target of up to 1 million

According to the Kon Plong district People’s Committee, in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, tourist arrivals doubled from 600,000 in 2022 to 1.2 million in 2023, generating $16.45 million USD in revenue. In early 2025, over 370,000 visitors visited the destination and brought in nearly 100 billion VND. In 2024, the district attracted 77 development projects, spanning over 5,000 hectares, with registered capital exceeding 30.33 trillion VND. The district offers 139 accommodation facilities, including resorts, hotels, and homestays, with 1,250 rooms accommodating over 6,000 guests daily. Occupancy rates average 65-70%, increasing to above 90% during holidays and festivals. The Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted the need to construct 9-10 four- and five-star hotels by 2030

The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) is responsible for preparing the investment plan for the Hanoi Metro Line No. 5, with the project set to be approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee in 2025 and construction planned to begin in 2025 too. Its estimated cost exceeds $2.5 billion USD. The metro line No. 5 will be 38.43 km long, connecting the suburbs of the city with the centre

According to Agoda, in Jan 2025, Da Nang became the most searched destination for Americans, surpassing Tokyo and Bangkok, with a 1,538% YoY growth. Overall, Vietnam became the top searched destination for American tourists in 2024 on the platform, climbing from fourth place in 2023 and surpassing Japan. There was a 174% increase in US-to-Vietnam accommodation searches in 2024. The Vietnamese Government aims to attract 1.3 million U.S. tourists and make the U.S. a top-three inbound tourism market by 2028

According to Agoda, Ha Giang ranked fourth globally in 2024 for searches related to small-town destinations with a population under 100,000. The loop’s top 3 spots include Ha Giang, Dong Van, and Quan Ba (with Quan Ba seeing a 72% rise in interest YoY). U.S., South Korean, and Taiwanese tourists are the most interested in the loop for 2025, with South Korean interest growing nearly 25% YoY

According to the Director of the Bac Ninh Museum and Tourism Promotion Centre, 2 free tours are available for tourists to explore historical and cultural landmarks in the province, running every Sat and Sun until Jun. In 2024, Bac Ninh welcomed over 2.3 million visitors, +40% YoY, generating around $74.5 million VND in revenue

The Hanoi Department of Tourism requested travel agencies to cease organising tours to train streets in Cua Nam, Hang Bong, and Cua Dong wards, with an aim to ensure tourist safety, maintain a secure railway corridor, and uphold public order. The department urged travel agencies to educate their staff on traffic accident risks near the train street cafes

Outbox Company reported based on a survey of 4,000 tourists, that the Net Promoter Scores (NPS) of South Korean and Taiwanese tourists for Vietnam were 15.3 and -12.8 respectively, while the regional average NPS for Asia was 26. The company is concerned that dissatisfied Taiwanese visitors are unlikely to share positive feedback about Vietnam. According to Outbox, reasons are rooted in gaps in hotel services, and transportation; language barriers as Korean and Taiwanese tourists prefer their native languages; and inefficiencies in airports and local transport systems affecting large group travel. Survey data indicated that Vietnam’s Destination Marketing Index (DME) scores in Taiwan and Korea are among the highest in the region

According to the provincial tourism authority, in Jan and Feb 2025, Tien Giang welcomed 367,668 (+1.2% YoY) visitors, reaching 17.5% of the annual target, including 111,690 international visitors (+1.4% YoY). Revenue from lodging, shopping, and entertainment reached 270 billion VND (+1.7% YoY), achieving 17.9% of the annual plan. In Feb 2025, the tourism pier at the Provincial Tourism Development Centre alone received 30,814 visitors. In 2025, the province aims to welcome 2.1 million tourists, including 700,000 foreign visitors, with the projected revenue at 1.5 trillion VND

The 10th Japan-Vietnam Festival will be held from 8-9 Mar at September 23 Park in District 1 in HCMC. Activities include musical shows, martial arts demonstrations, mikoshi palanquin parade, dragon dances, and calligraphy displays. Around 155 businesses will sell Japanese and Vietnamese snacks, merchandise, and other products at the event. From 1-2 Nov, a reciprocal HCMC Festival in Japan will be held in Tokyo to mark the 10th anniversary of the Japan-Vietnam Festival

At a government meeting on 5 Mar, the Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism with reviewing visa policies for "traditionally friendly nations”, and considering visa exemptions for tourists from certain countries, as well as billionaire visitors

In Apr 2025, Asia Premier Cruises (APC) will introduce a cave dining experience at Dragon Pearl Cave, located in Bai Tu Long’s Cam Pha district. The 2.5-hour experience will host up to 800 guests daily, featuring an international buffet, fine dining, and a 45-minute performance by the Suc Song Moi Orchestra, combining traditional Vietnamese and modern orchestral music

During a Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting in Siem Reap provincial city on 5 Mar, the Siem Reap Provincial Deputy Governor announced that the Siem Reap Smart City Project will begin Phase 2 in Aug 2025, following the completion of Phase 1 in May 2025, with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) continuing its involvement in the project. Phase 1 resulted in 8 pilot initiatives, with 6 initiatives being fully implemented and expanded. The Smart City Forum, involving the private sector, aims to position Siem Reap as a model city in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network

According to the General Statistics Office, from Jan-Feb 2025, Vietnam welcomed 3.96 million foreign visitors (+30% YoY), lower than Thailand's 7 million arrivals. Mainland China was Vietnam's top source of visitors (955,000), followed by South Korea (885,000) and Taiwan (218,000). The U.S. ranked fourth (180,000), Japan fifth (147,000), with Cambodia (142,000), Australia (104,817), Malaysia (102,000), India (92,000), and Russia (79,000) also in the top 10

On 5 Mar, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister met with the Sri Lankan Ambassador to discuss enhancing collaboration in culture, sports, and tourism. The Deputy Minister proposed strengthening cultural cooperation through exchanges, festivals, photo exhibitions, film weeks, and artistic activities. He added that Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will facilitate the Sri Lankan delegations’ participation in cultural events such as the Hanoi International Film Festival, International Dance Festival, and Hue Festival; and encouraged Sri Lanka to engage more actively in tourism promotion events, including the Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) in Hanoi and the International Travel Mart (ITE) in HCMC

The opening programme of the “National Tourism Year - Hue 2025” event is scheduled for 25 Mar, on the banks of the Perfume River, featuring semi-realistic performances, including water screens, visual mapping, LED floors, pyrotechnics, hot air balloons, paragliding, and sound or light effects. The event celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hue City's liberation. The Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism emphasised the importance of promoting the brand identity of the event, applying technology for the opening programme and event management

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism rolled out the tourism stimulus programme 2025 themed “Vietnam - Travel to Love", offering up to 50% discounts on accommodations, transport, dining, and entertainment nationwide, with reduced fees at iconic sites and scenic spots. The Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute suggested introducing incentive packages for tourists from visa-exempt countries and focusing on sustainable tourism. According to the Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), VNAT will launch a tourism platform allowing firms to access updated information and promotional programmes