Vietnam aims for more competitive tourism industry
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has issued an action plan with six tasks to improve the sector’s business environment and enhance national competitiveness.
Visitors are touring Tra Su Cajuput Forest in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Culture,Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has issued an action plan with six tasksto improve the sector’s business environment and enhance nationalcompetitiveness.
The six tasks include monitoring the Traveland Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) of the World Economic Forum(WEF); raising the ranking of priority index for the tourism industry to 15-20places; implementing reforms to make business easier; improving online publicservices and connecting the national one-stop portal.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) is responsible formonitoring the WEF’s travel and tourism competitiveness index.
The MCST will be the focal point for following TTCI’s criteria and developingdocuments to guide ministries, agencies and localities to understand theindicators, index groups, objectives and report forms.
Thien also assigned the General Department of Tourism to work with travelagencies around the world to learn more about this set of indicators.
ဣ The TTCI methodology calculates the score for each country on the basis of 90indicators within 14 pillars, including business environment; safety andsecurity; health and hygiene; human resources and labour market; ICT readiness;prioritisation of travel and tourism; international openness; pricecompetitiveness; environmental sustainability; air transport infrastructure;ground and port infrastructure; tourist service infrastructure; naturalresources; cultural resources and business travel.
According to the General Statistics Office, the number of foreign visitors toVietnam in March exceeded 1.4 million people, raising the total number offoreigners to the country over the last three months to more than 4.5 million,a year-on-year increase of 7 percent.
𒐪 In 2019, the tourism industry aims to welcome 103 million visitors, including18 million international visitors and 85 million domestic tourists.-VNA
Vietnam has eight UNESCO world heritages, intact historical sites and breathtaking beaches, said Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau at a promotion programme in Mumbai on December 13.
Vietnam is taking full advantage of the second DPRK-USA Summit in Hanoi to promote its tourism as the whole world is paying special attention to the event and the host country, said a tourism official.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
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.
Visitors are touring Tra Su Cajuput Forest in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang (Photo: VNA) 
