A ceremony was held in Hanoi on July 9 to honour the top Vietnamese travel businesses and to present the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2018 to enterprises that significantly contributed to the growth of Vietnamese tourism.
Hanoi (VNA) – A ceremony was held in Hanoi on July 9 to honour thetop Vietnamese travel businesses and to present the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2018to enterprises that significantly contributed to the growth of Vietnamesetourism.
The event, which celebrated the 58th founding anniversary ofthe Vietnamese tourism sector, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Damand representatives from various ministries, sectors, the Vietnam TravelAssociation and many travel firms.
Addressing the ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism NguyenNgoc Thien said that over the past 58 years, tourism activities have grown,attracting an increasing number of foreign tourists.
In the recent three years, the number of international visitors hasgrown 30 percent, reaching nearly 13 million in 2017 from 8 million in 2015.Its revenue in the year exceeded 510 trillion VND (21.93 billion USD),accounting for nearly 8 percent of the country’s GDP, he noted.
In 2018, the sector aims to serve 16 million foreign and 82 milliondomestic tourists, said the minister, adding that Vietnam had the world’s sixthfastest growing tourism sector and Asia’s fastest last year.
The minister highlighted the contributions by the business community tomaking Vietnam an attractive and competitive tourist destination.
This year, the Vietnam Tourism Awards were presented to 10 leadingtravel firms, 15 top five-star hotels, 15 top four-star hotels, 15 passengerautomobile carriers, 10 top restaurants for tourists, 10 shops, five tourismareas, 10 leading golf courses and five top tourism investors.
At the ceremony, the organizing board also announced 12 winners of awriting contest on Vietnamese tourism, which was launched from October 2017.
“I Love Vietnam” - a special prize for foreigners with best writing workon Vietnamese tourism – was presented to Lana O’Sullivan from the US.-VNA
Vietnam’s renowned destinations, excellent tourism products and policies will be nudged closer to European friends under a programme held by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in collaboration with relevant parties from June 18-29.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is inviting hospitality enterprises involved in travel, hotel, transportation, catering and entertainment to join a programme to promote Vietnamese tourism in North America starting this September.
Tourists from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will enjoy visa exemptions for the next three years until June 30, 2021, from July 1, 2018, when travelling to Vietnam.
The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam in the first six months of 2018 surged 27.2 percent year-on-year to 7.89 million, the General Statistics Office announced on June 29.
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.
Overview of the ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
