Vietnam International Travel Mart 2023 to spotlight cultural tourism
The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) themed “Cultural tourism” will take place on April 13-16 at the Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi, featuring 450 pavilions from over 50 localities nationwide, and 15 countries and territories aroundthe world.
Tourists experience making clay arrows on the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 on March 24 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) themed “Culturaltourism” will take place on April 13-16 at the Cultural FriendshipPalace in Hanoi, featuring 450 pavilions from over 50 localitiesnationwide, and 15 countries andterritories aroundthe world.
The event is expectedto attract over 60,000 visitors, and representatives from 2,500 businesses,that are interested in seeking cooperation opportunities and partners.
Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on March 28 to announce the event, Chairman of the VietnamTourism Association Vu The Binh said this year’s event aims to encourage travel firms to investin developing new tourism products through making the most of unique traditionalculture and culture heritage values of Vietnam.
The difference inculture, customs, production activities, and daily life of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnamis always attractive to domestic and international tourists, Binh stressed,expressing his hope that VITM 2023 will help bring tourism into an importantpart of the cultural industry, thus contributing to preserving the value ofVietnamese cultural heritage.
Within the event's framework, a forum on Vietnamese cultural tourism development will beheld on April 14, with the participation of local and international delegates.
Notably, a seminar on reducing plastic waste in the tourism industry will bealso arranged, focusing on measures to promote sustainable tourism developmentassociated with environmental protection.
Meanwhile, tourism promotion programmes will introduce attractivecultural tourism tours to in Taiwan (China), Nepal, and Indonesia; and culturaltourism attractions in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh and ThaiNguyen of Vietnam.
Domestic and international art troupes will also gather for music performance programmesheld in the framework of the event./.
The former imperial city of Hue in central Thua Thien-Hue province plans to develop a complex featuring a hotel, leasing offices, shopping malls and tourist recreation facility to offer something new from the heritage monuments in the former imperial capital.
Despite a remarkable recovery last year, it is still a long way for the tourism sector in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa to regain its pre-pandemic growth level, requiring endeavours to fully tap the local potential and advantages.
The People’s Committee of northeastern Quang Ninh province, home to UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay, will organise a conference on tourism development in Ha Long city on March 17, heard a press conference on March 14.
The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh was advised to focus on the three pillars of natural resources, historical and revolutionary relic sites, and culture in order to bolster local tourism.
The tourism sector of Hanoi has worked hard to step up linkages with other localities nationwide to diversify products and improve the quality of tourism services, toward attracting more holidaymakers to the capital city.
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.
Tourists experience making clay arrows on the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023 on March 24 (Photo: VNA) 
