Vietnam, Japan see great opportunities to promote tourism
Vietnam and Japan have many opportunities for mutual tourism promotion, boosting economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, said experts at a workshop held by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Ho Chi Minh City on February 23.
HCM City (VNA) – Vietnam and Japan have many opportunities for mutual tourism promotion, boosting economic recovery afterthe COVID-19 pandemic, said experts at a workshop held by the Japan NationalTourism Organisation (JNTO) in Ho Chi Minh City on February 23.
Director of the municipal Tourism Department Nguyen Thi AnhHoa said that to beef up the exchange of visitors between the sides, the cityneeds a long-term blueprint, encouraging the opening of direct flight routes linkingthe city and Japanese localities.
It is also necessary for the sides to organise morefestivals and cultural exchange events and join each other’s tourism fairs, shenoted.
Uchida Shusuke, Deputy Chief Representative of the JNTOoffice in Vietnam, said currently, flights between Vietnam and Japan haverecovered 95% as compared to their pre-pandemic levels.
In 2023, JNTO will focus on building relationships andcooperation with travel companies, airlines, and media channels. The company will also promote digital marketing and Japan's image via the Vietnam - Japan Festival and events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations. This will serve to quickly restore the number of Vietnamese touristscoming to Japan to the pre-pandemic levels.
According to statistics from the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism, HCM City welcomed more than 600,000 Japanese visitorsin 2019, accounting for over 60% of the total number of the group coming toVietnam. In 2022, after reopening, many tourism promotion activities were held in Japan and Vietnam. With more than 100,000 Japanesevisiting the city so far, Japan has always been in the top 10 international tourist markets of Ho Chi Minh City.
Before the pandemic, about 500,000 Vietnamese came to Japanannually. In 2022, Japan attracted more than 284,000 Vietnamese tourists,accounting for 7.4% of its total volume of international visitors./.
The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho wants to establish a strategic partnership with the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO)’s Vietnam office to attract more Japanese tourists to the city, said an official of the city.
As many as 200 representatives of nearly 80 travel firms of Vietnam and Japan gathered for a meeting held by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Ho Chi Minh on January 25.
Tourists from Southeast Asian nations are expected to be the main factor to help the Japanese government realise its goal of welcoming 60 million visitors by 2030.
Among nearly 1 million Japanese tourists to Vietnam, 60-70 percent of whom come to Hoi An ancient city in the central province of Quang Nam, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam.
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.
A corner of HCM City (Photo: VNA) 
