Vietnam

Vietnam launched a historic 3.4 quadrillion VND development drive consisting of 234 infrastructure projects, with 82% of funding sourced from private investment. Key milestones include the first maiden landings at the new Long Thanh International Airport, the expansion of Hanoi’s Noi Bai Terminal T2, and the commencement of Vingroup’s record-breaking 9,000-hectare Olympic sports complex in Hanoi. The package also prioritises regional connectivity through the HCMC-Moc Bai Expressway and the high-speed Ben Thanh-Can Gio metro line, alongside transport initiatives like Phu Quoc’s first light rail system for APEC 2027. Vietnam Electricity connected Con Dao Island to the national grid, while Vung Tau completed a 1.1 trillion VND redevelopment of Bai Sau Beach into a modern waterfront

HCMC proposed installing 157 air quality monitoring stations as part of its 2026 environmental programme to combat rising pollution levels following its expansion to 14 million residents and 12.7 million vehicles. Data from 2021 - 2025 shows that fine dust (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, and noise levels frequently exceed legal limits. Beyond air quality, the plan includes 254 surface water stations and dozens of specialized sites to monitor land subsidence and contaminated groundwater caused by untreated sewage and agricultural chemicals

According to the provincial People’s Committee, Gia Lai province will host Visit Vietnam Year 2026 under the theme “Gia Lai - Convergence of identities, spreading green,” focusing on sustainable development and the region's unique blend of forest and coastal landscapes. The year-long programme will feature over 100 cultural and sporting activities, including international-scale events such as the Central Highlands Gong Culture Festival and the International Traditional Martial Arts Festival. The initiative aims to establish the province as a premier global destination for eco-tourism and heritage

The Hanoi Culinary, Craft Village and Craft Street Tourism Festival 2025 concluded on 14 Dec after a four-day run that attracted over 30,000 visitors. The 5,000-square-metre event featured 3 dedicated zones focusing on traditional crafts, culinary excellence, and destination promotion. Attendees interacted with nearly 30 master craftsmen from renowned villages like Bat Trang (ceramics) and Vạn Phuc (silk), whilst sampling iconic local specialities such as West Lake lotus tea and Pho

According to data from Booking.com: - Phu Quoc and Da Lat are the most searched destinations for the holiday period (20 Dec 2025 - 4 Jan 2026), with HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Hoi An, Sapa also ranking in the top 10 - Around 69% of Vietnamese travellers are choosing to holiday within the country rather than travelling abroad - The 2026 New Year holiday coincides with a weekend, leading 83% of domestic tourists to opt for short weekend getaways to maximise their time - For international visitors, the most searched Vietnamese destinations include Phu Quoc, HCMC, and Hanoi, with a strong focus on cultural and festive experiences

In the Dec update of the Henley Passport Index 2025, the Vietnamese passport rose 2 places to rank 90th globally, marking an improvement from its 92nd-place ranking in Oct 2025 - however, remaining slightly lower than its 2024 rank of 87th. Vietnamese citizens can currently access 50 destinations without a traditional visa. In terms of "visa openness" - the number of nationalities a country allows to enter visa-free - Vietnam ranks 80th, currently granting exemptions to nearly 40 destinations

On 15 Dec, Vietnam reached 20 million international arrivals in a single year for the first time in its 65-year tourism history. The milestone passenger arrived on a Polish Airlines LOT flight to Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam’s tourism sector grew by an estimated 21% in 2025, a rate the UNWTO identifies as one of the highest globally. The country is expected to finish 2025 with over 21 million visitors, beating the previous 2019 record of 18 million

Following its merger with Vinh Phuc and Hoa Binh, Phu Tho has evolved into a diverse northern tourism powerhouse, combining its "Ancestral Land" heritage with high-end resorts and Mường ethnic culture. This expansion allows the province to offer a broader portfolio ranging from spiritual sites and Xoan singing to wellness retreats and adventure trekking in the highlands. Under its 2026–2030 strategy, the province is prioritising "green" and "smart" tourism, focusing on upgraded interregional transport and digital infrastructure to attract high-spending visitors from the EU, US, and Northeast Asia

Lam Dong province is expected to welcome 20.8 million tourists by the end of 2025, +18.1% YoY, including an estimated 1.3 million international tourists, +40% YoY. Total tourism revenue for the year is projected to reach 56.8 trillion VND. Tourism growth has been driven by delegations from Malaysia, South Korea, Australia, and India, with a particular focus on developing Muslim-friendly services for the Malaysian market. The province aims to welcome nearly 1.6 million international tourists in 2026 (+22.8% YoY). The province's tourism strategy will focus on promotions in key domestic markets like HCMC and Hanoi, while reaching out to potential international markets in Northeast and Southeast Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East. It is facilitating new charter flights from key markets like South Korea and Russia, while preparing for global travel fairs such as ITB Berlin and WTM London

On 13 Dec, HCMC was ranked among the world’s 10 most polluted major cities as thick haze led to "unhealthy" air quality levels. Real-time data from IQAir recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 179 in the morning, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels reaching 95.8 micrograms per cubic metre - nearly 4 times the World Health Organization's safety limit. Experts attribute the worsening conditions to a combination of heavy traffic, continuous construction (such as Ring Road No. 3), and seasonal temperature inversions that trap pollutants near the ground

According to the Chairman of the Sa Pa People's Committee, the Oolong tea hills in Sa Pa's O Quy Ho area, known for their annual late-year bloom of dark pink cherry blossoms, are set to be cleared for a $104 million USD eco-urban area project backed by the Ecopark Group. The hills' management company announced a temporary closure to visitors from early Dec 2025 for renovation. This plan caused regret among visitors to the hills, as it coincides with the peak of the flower season

On 12 Dec 2025, tourism officials in Hue held a strategic conference to review the city’s 2023-2025 roadmap to reduce plastic waste. The initiative has led to over 100 local businesses signing plastic-reduction commitments and the launch of "single-use plastic-free" tours across key community sites like Thuy Bieu and Thanh Toan. Digital innovations, such as a "green location" search on the Hue-S app and the installation of 12 public water dispensers, have further encouraged eco-friendly travel. Moving into 2026, the city aims to scale these models, integrating circular economy practices, such as glass-bottle recycling and plastic-free dining

From 19-21 Dec, the 9th Vietnam-Laos-China Cross-Border Cultural Festival will be hosted in Dien Bien province, hosting around 1,200 participants from the 3 countries. The event will feature ethnic cultural performances, exhibitions, and traditional sports, while also hosting a famtrip programme to boost cross-border tourism

Quang Ninh province is hosting a series of large-scale cultural, tourism, and sporting events throughout Dec, expecting up to 50,000 visitors. The month features the 17th Vietnam-China International Trade and Tourism Fair and concludes with the "Quang Ninh welcomes 2026" New Year’s Eve art programme, featuring EDM and fireworks

The HCMC municipal Department of Tourism partnered with Grab Vietnam to create a seamless digital travel experience, and signed a key agreement with TikTok Vietnam to launch a campaign promoting the city's 168 localities through unique online content. This digital strategy complements the ongoing implementation of the "one locality, one tourism product" model. According to Agoda’s online travel search data from Sep-Nov, demand for family travel to Vietnam from the region and globally was +30% YoY, with HCMC ranked fourth

From 26 Dec-1 Jan, Can Tho will host its inaugural River Culture Festival at Ninh Kieu Wharf and Hau River Park. The festival will feature 12 main activities, including a drone light show, fireworks, and boat racing and parade. From Jan-Nov 2025, the city recorded nearly 10 million visitor arrivals (+25.8% YoY), and revenues of 8.6 trillion VND (+25% YoY)

According to searches made between Sep-Nov 2025 for stays from Dec 2025 and Jan 2026 on Agoda: There is a 30% increase YoY in family travel interest to Vietnam Top inbound markets include South Korea, India, Singapore, Australia, and Malaysia Travel interest from Indian families rose the fastest, with searches jumping by 186% YoY Malaysian interest also posted a strong increase of 74%

According to Agoda, Phu Quoc is the top Vietnamese destination sought by international travellers for the winter holidays, with a 47% increase in searches. Based on searches made between Sep-Nov on Agoda for stays during Dec 2025 and Jan 2026, Da Nang came in second, followed by Nha Trang and HCMC

Vietnam's economic growth is expected at 6.7% for 2025 and a trade surplus of nearly $17 billion USD. With public debt manageable at 36% of GDP and 2025 revenue soaring to $91 billion USD, the government is adopting an aggressive fiscal posture for 2026, planning $120 billion USD in expenditures (a nearly 23% increase) and allowing the deficit to rise to 4.2% of GDP

HCMC approved VinSpeed (Vingroup subsidiary) as the investor of the Ben Thanh-Can Gio railway project, with a total investment of nearly $3.9 billion USD, excluding the State-covered site clearance. The line will be a fully electrified 54 km double-track railway designed for speeds of 350 km/h, connecting Ben Thanh to Can Gio in just 20.3 minutes. With a 70-year operating term, the project is scheduled to begin site clearance in Q4 2025 and aims for Phase 1 operations in 2028

Phu Tho is accelerating the digital transformation of its tourism sector, involving the younger generation through the "Youth Participation in Digital Transformation" project. During 2 years, the project initiated the creation of a tourism website and the training of 25 youth members in digital promotion skills. By applying technology, the province now offers enhanced visitor experiences through centralised data management, 3D visualisations, and digital maps, which simulate historical sites and save visitors time and cost

According to data from travel analytics platform Orchestra, French holiday tour bookings are +5.4% YoY, with the average spend remaining stable at 3,916 EUR, as French consumers continue to prioritise travel despite price volatility. The long-haul sector is strong, with Vietnam attracting more French visitors than at any time since the pandemic and having now returned to pre-pandemic visitor levels due to previously pent-up demand. The number of French visitors to Thailand was +2.4% for the winter season

From Jan-Nov 2025, nearly 4.8 million Chinese tourists visited Vietnam (+43% YoY), representing 25.1% of all international arrivals. Experts project the total may surpass 6 million in 2025. The growth is supported by large-scale incentive travel, such as the 8-day trip organised by SUN HOPE Group to Nha Trang, where the group's expenditure topped $800,000, with hotel expenses alone exceeding $400,000 USD (over 1,500 room nights booked)

Vietnam Film Week was held in Laos over 6 days, aiming to boost Laos-Vietnam relations

Vietnam has reported 19.15 million international visitors from Jan-Nov 2025, +20.9% YoY. In Nov 2025, arrivals were 1.98 million, +14.2% MoM and +15.6% YoY. Asia was the largest source of visitors, at 15.10 million, +19.7% YoY, Europe was up 37.8% YoY. China was the largest arrivals market at 4.8 million tourists, +43.1% YoY , South Korea at 3.9 million tourists, then Taiwan, the US and Japan. Russian arrivals increased by 191% YoY to 593,000. Air arrivals were 84.5% of the total international arrivals, land arrivals were 2.7 million, +22.2% YoY and sea arrivals 228,800, +3.4% YoY. Revenue from tourism services from Jan-Nov 2025 was estimated at $3.2 billion USD, +19.9% YoY, with Hanoi seeing 23.5% YoY growth, HCMC 22.3% YoY, Quang Ninh 18.2% YoY, Vinh Long 14.1% YoY and Da Nang 13.2% YoY. Accommodation and food service revenue was +14.6% YoY to 767.8 trillion VND

According to Google’s Year in Search 2025 for Vietnam, there was a clear shift where AI has moved from a concept to a practical tool, with users primarily searching for applications like "How to make a video AI?" and image creation techniques using tools like Gemini and Grok. The Travel category showed a strong preference for domestic destinations like Da Lat and Mui Ne, while the News category was dominated by searches for extreme weather events

On 4 Nov, the luxury Malta-flagged cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice, arrived at Thi Vai General Port in HCMC carrying nearly 2,850 international passengers. After docking, around 1,400 passengers disembarked, with about 75% choosing tours in HCMC, including popular visits to the Cu Chi Tunnels and traditional craft villages, while others toured Dong Thap Province or Vung Tau. In 2025, the ship has made repeated visits to Vietnam

On 5 Dec, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the HCMC Department of Culture and Sports, held a dialogue and legal training conference to strengthen legal support for businesses and streamline administrative procedures in the culture, sports, and tourism sectors. The Ministry is actively adjusting the legal framework to cut bureaucracy, while HCMC pledged to improve support and create favourable conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises. Businesses provided feedback on issues like film licensing and event organisation, which will be presented to the Ministry for regulation adjustments

Quang Tri is positioning itself as a regional hub for caravan tourism, capitalising on its strategic location along the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and its diverse attractions spanning sea, culture, and history. Strong interest from travel businesses in Laos and Thailand, confirmed during a recent Famtrip, highlights the ease of access via the Lao Bao and Cha Lo border gates and the convenient transit to major Vietnamese destinations. Local businesses are responding to high international standards set by partners for accommodation, parking, and services, seeing caravans as a strategic pathway for future growth. The Chairman of the Quang Tri Tourism Association said that it will assist local businesses in standardising services and fostering deeper regional cooperation between Vietnamese, Lao, and Thai enterprises