Breakthrough made in improving Vietnam’s tourism image
2016 was a successful year for the tourism sector, with a record number of 10 million foreign tourists along with a breakthrough in improving the image of Vietnam’s tourism through a campaign to scrutinize the accommodation system nationwide.
Da Nang city in the central part of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – 2016 was a successful year for thetourism sector, with a record number of 10 million foreign tourists along with abreakthrough in improving the image of Vietnam’s tourism through a campaign toscrutinize the accommodation system nationwide.
The campaign was launched after the national conference ontourism in Hoi An in August. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism(VNAT) held 16 conferences with 47 provinces and cities to guide theimplementation of the policy.
The inspection focused on three- to five-star facilities in22 major tourist destinations. Vietnamcurrently has over 400 three-star hotels, more than 200 four-star and 107five-star hotels.
Authorities revoked the star-ranking of 35 hotels, includinga five-star hotel in the northern Quang Ninh province, along with ninefour-star and 25 three-star ones.
Minister of Culture, Sportsand Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien affirmed that the campaign was effective, raisingconfidence of both businesses and tourists. He added that the ministry isbuilding a code of conduct for tourism accommodations, detailing standards forthem to meet international integration requirements. The Minister also revealedthat a national standard system for tourism sector is also being finalised.
In the coming time, thesector will continue implementing the campaign, while launching an inspectionof travel agents, the minister said, adding that the ministry will work hard toimprove the quality of tourism services, thus promoting Vietnam as a safe, friendlyand high quality destination.
According to the VNAT, thecampaign to scrutinize tourist accommodations has made a strong influence on businessesin the field, changing their attitude towards tourists as well as theirawareness of the need to improve services to raise their competitiveness.
A representative from HanoiRedtour proposed that along with the quality inspection on accommodations, theVNAT should also help the facilities to enhance their service quality byorganising new training courses on professional skills and attitude./.
Vietnam is promoting the “Northwestern Tourism Year” in 10 ASEAN member states to introduce ethnic culture, adventure and eco-tourism attractions, said a Vietnamese official.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Da Nang city in the central part of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
