Vietnam

According to a report from the government's disaster management agency, the death toll in Vietnam from Typhoon Bualoi and its subsequent floods has risen to 36, with 21 people still missing and 147 injured. The government has raised the estimated property damage to 11.5 trillion VND. The devastation includes over 210,000 houses damaged or inundated, the destruction of over 51,000 hectares of crops, and widespread damage to roads, schools, and essential power grids

Lao Cai Province suspended all tours to destinations like Sa Pa and Mu Cang Chai due to the high risk of floods and landslides caused by the heavy rains from Typhoon Bualoi. Lao Cai’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued the directive to all providers, demanding that tours to at-risk areas be halted and that regular weather updates be provided to ensure public safety. Tourist establishments were urged to offer discounts on services to support affected visitors and were mandated to reinforce their facilities against property damage. Organisers must contact tourists whose itineraries are impacted to agree on cancellations or rescheduling, with the storm having already caused 5 deaths, 55 missing, and over 2.7 trillion VND in damage across the province

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) is organising an event to promote and connect Vietnamese tourism businesses with partners in China, scheduled to run from 19-28 Oct and will be held in 3 major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Chongqing, and Chengdu. VNAT is inviting various entities, including travel and tourism departments, promotion centres, airlines, travel agencies, hotels, and entertainment providers. According to a statement from the MoCST, the initiative aims to update policies, promote Vietnamese destinations and products, establish business cooperation, and attract Chinese tourists to Vietnam

Typhoon Bualoi caused an estimated economic loss of over $332 million USD. The storm triggered torrential rain, landslides, and flash floods across 18 provinces, leaving at least 54 people dead or missing and injured a further 140. Provinces like Ha Tinh and Nghe An bore the brunt of the damage, accounting for the vast majority of economic losses and housing damage, with over 154,000 homes damaged or unroofed. Infrastructure was crippled, with nearly 49,000 hectares of crops destroyed, over 2.7 million households losing power, and more than a thousand schools and mobile base stations knocked out of service

According to the municipal Department of Tourism, Hanoi welcomed 4.17 million visitors in Sep 2025, which is almost double the figure YoY, including 666,700 foreign arrivals and 3.5 million domestic tourists. Tourism revenue for the month reached an estimated $461 million USD, +46% YoY. From Jan-Sep 2025, the city welcomed 26.07 million visitors, +23.8% YoY, with tourism revenue reaching 98.36 trillion VND, +20%

Making landfall in Ha Tinh on 29 Sep with Category 11 winds and extreme rainfall (up to 857 mm), Typhoon Bualoi damaged over 104,000 homes, primarily in Ha Tinh, and destroyed thousands of hectares of crops. Infrastructure saw severe damage, with 3,400 electricity poles toppled, numerous highways cut off, and 10 dike failures reported. In response, the Prime Minister issued an emergency directive to search for the missing, aid victims, and restore essential services, including ordering the release of reservoir water to ease downstream flooding

Following Storm Bualoi, Hanoi suffered severe flash flooding on 30 Sep after receiving over 150mm of rainfall in just a few hours, creating 65 flooding hotspots across the city. Water levels reached up to 50 cm in inner-city districts, causing major traffic chaos as vehicles became stranded and key routes, including Thang Long Boulevard and access roads to Noi Bai Airport, were brought to a complete standstill

Train services on the North-South Railway were temporarily suspended on 30 Sep due to severe flooding in the central province of Thanh Hoa following Typhoon Bualoi, making the Thi Long-Van Trai area unsafe for operations. Railway operators had to organise alternative road transportation for over 1,113 passengers between Thanh Hoa Station and Truong Lam Station, and provided thousands of free meals for those affected by the service disruption

A Norwegian-funded programme, supported by WWF-Vietnam has launched a training centre for sustainable tourism practices in the central city of Hue, in partnership with the Hue Tourism College. Inaugurated on 29 Sep, the centre will educate students and local communities on plastic alternatives and environmentally friendly management. As part of the initiative, the college signed agreements with local communes to promote community-based tourism and partnered with the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre to link sustainability with cultural heritage preservation

The Management Board of the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area in Tay Ninh Province has suspended all mountain climbing and camping activities, effective from 1 Oct until further notice. This preventative measure is due to the high risk of landslides, falling rocks, and slippery trails during the stormy seaso

Hanoi was recently honoured with the “Sustainable Tourism” Award at the Tourism Promotion Organisation for Global Cities (TPO) Best Awards 2025. The city has pursued environmentally friendly tourism linked to cultural preservation through initiatives such as reducing single-use plastics in accommodations and restaurants, the “Green Sunday” campaign, implementing community-based and eco-tourism models, and introducing waste sorting systems at relic sites. However, experts point out that the city still lacks standardised criteria for officially recognising green destinations, along with issues of limited investment and inter-sectoral coordination

Typhoon Bualoi is forecast to make landfall in central Vietnam on 29 Sep 8am, with thousands of residents starting to be evacuated in Ha Tinh province

Da Nang’s streets saw flooding after heavy rainfall due to Typhoon Bualoi on 27 Sep morning, with some waters up to 70cm in depth

In 2025, Vietnam's RevPAR (Revenue per available room) was +17% YoY. According to Savills Hotels under Savills Group, hotels in Hanoi and HCMC are boosting revenue primarily through higher room prices. Coastal destinations (e.g., Nha Trang, Phu Quoc) are recording sharp increases in occupancy rates. According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Deputy Director, Vietnam has been assessed by the ASEAN Secretariat as the fastest-recovering tourism destination in the region, reaching 98% of pre-pandemic levels

On 26 Sep, over 800 domestic and international tourism businesses gathered in Hanoi for the MICE EXPO 2025. The event was organised by the Vietnam MICE Tourism Chapter, with the theme “Heritage and Technology in the new era”. It features 150 sellers and an increased number of 1,500 buyers, including over 50 international buyers for the first time. The programme includes a seminar on MICE tourism, a Tech Zone displaying digital platforms and fam trips to showcase Vietnamese destinations. The Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism emphasised MICE as a fast-growing segment, which is being promoted as a pillar of national tourism growth. He urged enterprises to boost service quality and successfully integrate heritage with technology to capitalise on rising demand

The government directed that the processing time for Vietnam's visa-exemption certificates at its overseas missions will be halved from 2 working days to 1. Additionally, the Prime Minister mandated that foreign nationals can now submit applications for the certificate - which is granted to Overseas Vietnamese and foreigners with a Vietnamese spouse or parent - by post. These certificates are valid for 5 years and may be affixed to a passport or issued as a separate document, particularly for passport holders from countries without diplomatic relations with Vietnam

The Deputy Director of the Vietnam Forestry Administration announced that the Con Dao National Park has been successfully admitted to the IUCN Green List Standard (International Union for Conservation of Nature), confirming it meets global requirements for effectively managed and fairly governed protected areas. The IUCN Green List certification is valid for 5 years (until 2030), subject to a mandatory mid-term review to confirm the park's continued alignment with the standards. The park covers over 15,000 hectares of land and nearly 14,000 hectares of marine area, including approximately 2,000 hectares of coral reefs. The management team operates controlled eco-tourism experience programmes, such as watching sea turtles lay eggs

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) approved a roadmap for tourism and business connections in North America, with a promotional programme scheduled from 1-10 Nov 2025. This initiative is designed to help meet the national target of welcoming 25 million foreign tourists in 2025 and specifically aims to promote a 10% increase in U.S. tourists in 2026. According to the MoCST, the programme targets the middle-class and high-end US tourist segments, and will consolidate the “Vietnam-Endless Beauty” brand through B2B meetings, the signing of MoUs, and cultural showcases, including a focus on culinary tourism

The annual Vietnam Pho Festival will be held from 18-19 Oct at Our Tampines Hub in Singapore. It is organised by the Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, and Saigontourist Group. The Vietnamese ambassador to Singapore said that the community of over 33,000 Vietnamese in Singapore and international friends are looking forward to attending the festival. He added that the festival is expected to boost bilateral trade between the 2 countries with a goal of achieving $30 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2028. The Vietnam-Singapore Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Forum will be held within the festival framework, featuring 150 businesses and focusing on sectors like food processing and green logistics

Quang Ninh and Hung Yen provinces enforced a sea ban from 24 Sep noon, recalling thousands of fishing and tourist vessels and evacuating workers from aquaculture farms to safe shelters as a precaution against Typhoon Ragasa. In Quang Ninh, over 4,100 fishing boats and nearly 500 tourist ships were recalled, and 7,900 aquaculture farms were reinforced, with over 3,000 officers and soldiers mobilised for rescue readiness. The typhoon was forecast to weaken before making landfall in Quang Ninh by midday 25 Sep with sustained winds of 60–88 kph

At the 30th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), the Vietnam Film Development Promotion Association (VFDA) and BHD co-organised the "Heartbeat of Vietnamese Cinema" seminar to analyse film trends and the regional role of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (DANAFF), and to discuss Vietnam–Korea co-productions. During the event, DANAFF IV was announced for 28 Jun - 4 Jul 2026, with a focus on American cinema and a retrospective of Vietnamese films from the 40 years of the Reform period. Furthermore, two 2026 film projects were introduced, including a Vietnam–Korea co-production called Sai Gon Oppa

Vietnam's Prime Minister announced plans to pursue new trade agreements, specifically with the Mercosur bloc and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, to offset the significant impact of US tariffs. A UN Development Programme estimate revealed that US duties could cut up to one-fifth of Vietnam's exports to the US, designating it the hardest-hit country in Southeast Asia. The PM expects exports to grow by over 12% in 2025. According to government data, up to 15 Sep, Vietnam's exports reached $325.3 billion USD, +15.8% YoY. Additionally, Vietnam will continue trade talks with the US and is tackling issues of illegal trans-shipment and intellectual property violations

The 2025 Vietnam Tourism Awards are being revived after a 5-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and will be hosted and televised on 27 Sep in Hanoi, coinciding with World Tourism Day. Organised by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), the event features 11 diverse categories, with a total of 18 honours, including a new honour for golf tourism. The Director General of VNAT said that all applications requires verification by local authorities to ensure accuracy, with this year’s award categories catering to both large-scale enterprises and small to medium-sized businesses, especially in the fields of dining, community-based tourism, and creative tourism products

Ca Mau Province is planning to establish Cape Ca Mau as a national tourist area by 2030. Target figures for 2030 include welcoming 11.5 million visitors and generating around $546 million USD in tourism revenue. A key 2030 objective is also to develop the Nha Mat Tourist Area into a national tourist destination. By 2045, the province aims for fully developed infrastructure and services meeting international tourism standards, along with a smart tourism system and 100% digital connectivity for major sites. The province will focus on developing tourism products, such as mangrove forest eco-tourism, coastal community tourism, agriculture tourism linked to the OCOP scheme, and cultural-spiritual tourism. The immediate target for 2025 is to welcome around 8 million visitors and achieve total revenue exceeding 8.5 trillion VND

The International Puppetry Festival 2025 will be held in Quang Ninh Province in Nov 2025. The event is approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with its Department of Performing Arts in charge of organisation. Around 12-15 international troupes are expected to participate, with the deadline for registration is set to 25 Oct. The festival aims to celebrate puppetry and fostering international cultural exchange

The Vietnamese Embassy in China and the China-ASEAN Centre co-hosted a bilateral tourism and investment promotion forum in Beijing on 21 Sep, bringing together representatives from Nghe An, Quang Tri, and Tay Ninh provinces, along with some 250 delegates from both countries’ businesses in electronics, real estate, agricultural trade, tourism, and banking. The Vietnamese Ambassador to China stated that Vietnam is encouraging Chinese investment in high-priority areas such as innovation, green growth, digital transformation, renewable energy, smart cities, high-quality manufacturing, transport infrastructure, healthcare, and education. From Jan-Aug 2025, China's total investment in Vietnam reached $3.13 billion USD, +37.6% YoY

To mark World Tourism Day 2025, Ca Mau Province is hosting a 5-day event from 26-30 Sep themed "Ca Mau - the southernmost point of the nation, a place where nature and tranquillity converge". Key activities include a fam trip for surveying destinations, a Culinary Cultural Essence Festival, a chef competition, and a scientific seminar on tourism brand positioning. The province aims to facilitate cooperation between its tourism businesses and those from major cities to boost tourism and expand the market for its specialty and OCOP products

According to data from the travel platform Agoda: - Searches for "secondary destinations" in Vietnam, defined as those outside the top 10 most popular spots were +9% in H1 2025 compared to the same period in 2023 - Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Giang, and Tam Dao have experienced a notable surge in visitors during recent holidays - Across Asia, searches for secondary destinations in general climbed over 15% during the same period

The Xuan Hoi Beach Ecotourism Area project officially commenced construction on 23 Sep in Dan Hai Commune in Ha Tinh province. The complex is being developed by Xuan Hoi Investment Joint Stock Company with a total capital of around $151 million USD across more than 92 hectares. It is planned as a high-end coastal resort, commercial, and service complex, and is expected to be implemented within 60 months from the groundbreaking date

Vias Resort debuts Vietnam’s first private island retreat in Van Phong Bay in Khanh Hoa province. It introduces a unique "Exclusive Buyout" model, allowing guests to rent the entire peninsula for ultimate privacy and exclusivity. The resort's design is minimalist, complementing its natural surroundings with a focus on serene, light-filled spaces. Amenities include a seawater infinity pool, pickleball courts, and a signature seafood restaurant

To meet its 2025 targets, Vietnam must attract over 2.75 million international visitors per month for the last 4 months of 2025, an increase from the 1.75 million monthly average so far. The President of the Vietnam Tourism Association emphasised 2 priorities, including intensifying digital promotions, and organising familiarisation trips for international tour operators. According to the Chairman of the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents, promotional efforts will prioritise nearby markets like China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and India, which are expected to see a 20-30% increase in arrivals. Long-haul markets like Europe, Australia, and the U.S. may see a delayed response with a potential 15-20% increase starting in Nov or Dec

According to the Vice President of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) and Director General of Russian Express Holding, for the 2025/26 winter season, Vietnam is forecast to become the third most popular destination for Russian tourists, behind Egypt and Thailand. The rise in visitors is attributed to an increase in charter flights. The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) estimates that 10-12% of Russian travellers who previously went to Thailand are now expected to choose Vietnam

According to the city’s Department of Construction during a press briefing on 18 Sep, HCMC plans to launch simultaneous construction on 9 new metro lines by the end of 2027 as part of a strategy to complete a 355km urban rail network by 2035. This infrastructure project carries a preliminary investment of around $44 billion USD. According to the Urban Railway Management Office, the city will rely on a diverse mix of funding, including the state budget, ODA, and the innovative use of "value capture" from land surrounding Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones. The investment will be implemented in 2 main phases: 2026-2030 and 2031-2035. The city aims to complete land clearance, compensation, and resettlement processes by 2027

Grab integrated its services into Alipay+ Voyager, an AI travel agent of Ant International’s global wallet gateway. Alipay+ Voyager is available in Alipay (China), AlipayHK (Hong Kong SAR) and GCash (the Philippines). The users visiting Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar can book Grab through Alipay+ Voyager. Alipay+ connects 36 partner e-wallets, with 1.7 billion users and 100 million in-store merchants in 70 markets

According to the Regional Vice President for South Korea, Vietnam, and the Philippines at Marriott International, the group is optimistic about Vietnam's tourism market, with the company currently managing 28 hotels and resorts and employing over 7,500 people. A strong tourism recovery, which saw a 22.5% increase in international visitors, has boosted Marriott's nationwide revenue per available room by 23.5%. Marriott is also integrating new technology, such as AI, and focusing on sustainability by phasing out single-use plastics

The Son Tra Peninsula's tourism routes in Da Nang have reopened as of 16 Sep, after being closed for almost 3 years due to road damage from heavy rains in Oct 2022. Visitors can now access 3 specific routes during set hours, but must adhere to strict regulations. These include staying on designated paths and not engaging in unauthorised activities like filming or drone use without official permission

The national exhibition "80 Years of Independence - Freedom - Happiness" set new records by attracting over 10 million visitors in just 19 days. The event covered nearly 260,000 sqm, showcasing the nation’s progress and utilising advanced technology like virtual reality and AI. The event was hosted at the Vietnam Exposition Centre (VEC), which drew a record 1.3 million people on its busiest day. High-level delegations from countries including Laos, Cambodia, and Russia also attended

Vietnam surpassed Thailand as the top destination for Chinese tourists, a shift driven by a 35% drop in Chinese arrivals to Thailand amid safety concerns. So far in 2025, Vietnam welcomed a record 14 million foreign visitors, with a notable 44% increase in arrivals from China, its largest source market, by Aug. A new wave of independent, educated Chinese travellers is seeking more authentic experiences, which Vietnam is providing by adapting its tourism products and local businesses. According to China Trading Desk, this redirection of tourism potentially costs Thailand $3.5 billion USD in lost revenue while boosting Vietnam's visitor numbers and tourism retail sales

From Jan-Jul 2025, Vinh Long province welcomed almost 6 million visitors, with over 876,000 international visitors. Tourism revenue was estimated at over $189.5 million USD. After merging with Ben Tre and Tra Vinh provinces, Vinh Long now has a coastline of over 130 kilometres. It plans to strengthen tourism links with other parts of the country, particularly with HCMC and other Mekong Delta provinces. The province will also attract investment for key projects like the Cai Ga Islet resort, Khmer Cultural - Tourism Village, and Ba Om Pond Cultural and Tourism resort

Deo Ca Group proposed to build a new urban railway connecting the central Vietnamese localities of Da Nang and Hoi An by 2030. It will be developed as a public-private partnership (PPP) involving a joint venture of several investors, including Kita Group, Futa Group, and China Design Group. The new railway system is expected to reduce travel time between Da Nang and Hoi An to 20 minutes, with future plans to extend the line to Tam Ky and Chu Lai

Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Ward is set to begin a major renovation project on a 2.14-hectare area east of Hoan Kiem Lake, with construction for the first phase scheduled to start before 10 Oct. This public investment project aims to create a new park and square, enhancing green spaces and cultural facilities. The development requires clearing land from 47 property owners, and compensation and resettlement will be handled in accordance with the 2024 Land Law. A future phase will involve building a 3-level underground space that will connect to a station on the city's Metro Line 2

The second Da Nang International Travel Festival will be held from 16-17 Oct at the Ariyana Convention Centre. It is expected to attract around 2,000 delegates, including over 200 domestic and 120 international travel companies. The main highlight is a 2-day "Buyers Meet Sellers" B2B networking session to connect businesses from key markets like Thailand, South Korea, Japan, China, India, and Russia. The event will also feature workshops and seminars on destination marketing and improving service quality

Luxury resort projects along the HCMC coast, from Phuoc Hai to Ho Tram, have been abandoned or left unfinished, with sites now overgrown with weeds and covered in rusted fences. These stalled developments include the 2.2 trillion VND Hai Minh Tourism Complex and the 12.145 trillion VND Ben Thanh - Long Hai Tourism Project. In response, the local government has announced plans to revoke licenses from these stalled projects and re-auction the land to new, financially capable investors

Vietnam has become the second Southeast Asian country to sign a carbon trading agreement with Singapore, which was formalised on 16 Sep. The pact, signed under the Paris Agreement, allows Singaporean companies to purchase carbon credits from Vietnam to offset their emissions. As part of the deal, Singapore has voluntarily committed to contribute 5% of the transaction funds to climate adaptation measures in Vietnam and will cancel 2% of the credits authorised at first issuance, to ensure a genuine reduction in overall emissions

At the International Travel Expo HCM City (ITE HCMC 2025), the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Health signed an MoU focusing on transforming Vietnam into a more attractive destination for medical tourism for the period 2025-2030. This initiative will integrate healthcare and tourism to create high-value services for both domestic and international visitors. The agreement focuses on developing policies to connect medical facilities with travel agencies, allowing tourists to combine leisure with health services

On 14 Sep, the International Women’s Club of Israel (IWC Israel) organised a discussion on Vietnamese cuisine, culture, and tourism. The event featured Professor Nir Avieli, an Israeli cultural anthropologist from Ben Gurion University. During the discussion, the Professor shared his insights on how Vietnamese cuisine reflects cultural identity, social aspects, and its potential for developing cultural tourism

Vietnam launched its first national cultural industry association, the Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Association (VCIDA), in HCMC. The association aims to turn culture into a key economic driver and strengthen the country’s global "soft power." With a goal for cultural industries to contribute 7% of Vietnam's GDP by 2030, the VCIDA has already signed several cooperation agreements with international partners and is preparing a delegation to perform at a cultural festival in Russia in Nov

Head of the Royal Thai Consulate General in HCMC went to Da Nang for a working visit. Thailand will be promoting a series of programmes in celebration of its 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in Vietnam. Thai businesses have been expanding investment in Da Nang through the recently signed strategic partnership deal between Thailand and Vietnam. Thailand’s Central Retail is also planning to open more supermarkets in Vietnam, including an MM Mega Market and Go! Store that are already under construction. Thailand, in partnership with Da Nang University, will launch a Thai language course from 2006, providing at least $35,000 USD in scholarships for local students studying Thai language

According to the Department of Medical Services Administration (MoH), around 40,000 high-income Vietnamese citizens travel abroad for medical treatment annually, resulting in a significant $2 billion USD of foreign currency outflow. In response, Vietnam's Ministry of Health drafted a master plan for 2025-2030 to promote medical tourism by focusing on developing high-quality, internationally certified healthcare services. The plan aims to attract foreign nationals and affluent Vietnamese by piloting medical tourism packages in 5 key provinces and focusing on specialties like oncology and cosmetic surgery. The strategy seeks to address systemic challenges such as a lack of international accreditation and rigid financial policies

A conference was held in Tay Ninh province to boost logistics and trade cooperation with Cambodia, aiming to reach a bilateral trade target of $20 billion USD by 2030. In 2024, 2-way trade reached $10.1 billion USD. By the end of the first months of 2025, 2-way trade had already surpassed $7 billion USD, but Vietnam is now facing an increasing trade deficit. To achieve the goal, the Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade called for joint efforts in developing border trade infrastructure linked with logistics, strengthening inter-regional and cross-sectoral ties, adopting innovative border gate models, and boosting trade in agricultural, forestry, and fishery products, with the goal of cutting cross-border logistics costs by 10-15% by 2030

Following a recent merger of Lam Dong with the areas of Dak Nong and Binh Thuan, the region has launched a new "Flowers, Great Forest and Blue Sea" tour route, connecting the iconic destinations of Da Lat and Mui Ne. This new route offers a variety of experiences, from exploring flower farms and coffee plantations to relaxing on beaches. From 9-10 Sep, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with the local Tourism Association, hosted a pilot tour for about 100 delegates. The event brought together experts and managers to assess and promote new tourism offerings

According to the UN Tourism Organisation, Vietnam, along with Japan, has the highest YoY growth in international tourist arrivals at 21% in H1 2025. From Jan-Aug 2025, Vietnam welcomed 14 million foreign tourists, +22% YoY. The top source markets for Vietnam were China, South Korea, and Taiwan

Nearly 20 people were reportedly scammed by the United Kingdom International Travel Services Joint Stock Company and its manager after booking tours to Turkey that were cancelled on the day of departure without a refund. The total amount scammed is estimated to be billions of VND. The HCMC Tourism Association acknowledged that the case shows signs of fraud and has urged victims to come forward. The incident prompted officials to warn the public to thoroughly research travel agencies before booking tours

From 3-5 Oct, the Mid-Autumn Festival in Tuyen Quang City will be held. The festival features a parade of 60 giant lantern models that often recreates folk tales and historical legends. Other events include a trade and tourism fair, a food and beer festival, folk games, and sports competitions

Sun Hospitality & Entertainment Group (S.H.E) signed an MoU with MakeMyTrip, a major online travel company in India, aiming to promote S.H.E's hotels and resorts to the Indian market. In H1 2025, Vietnam welcomed 337,000 Indian visitors, with nearly 300,000 of them visiting Sun World destinations, +101% YoY

According to search data from Agoda: Japan is the top-searched destination for food and drink activities, followed by Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia Travellers from Japan are leading the trend in seeking out culinary experiences both domestically and in neighbouring countries like Thailand, South Korea, and Vietnam Culinary-focused activities are now among the top five categories for travellers, alongside tours and immersive experiences

In Jul 2025 alone, Co To island welcomed over 129,000 visitors, with water sports becoming a key attraction. A pilot project has been launched to offer regulated water sports, including jet skiing, parasailing, kayaking, and stand-up paddling (SUP), at popular hotspots. New inter-island tours are being developed, such as the "Three-Island Tour". The island is improving services at beaches like Hong Van and Van Chay, and bringing new activities, such as coral diving and sunset canoe trips, under official management. It is also piloting "Net Zero" tours, focusing on eco-friendly experiences. Quang Ninh Province also plans to create a marine reserve at Tran Island to sustainably manage resources and develop controlled eco-tourism

Authorities in Dong Nai Province are planning to build the Cat Lai Bridge at an estimated cost of $682 million USD. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026 with the bridge, which will be 4.7km long and have 8 lanes, planned to open in 2028. The project aims to replace the existing ferry service between HCMC and the industrial hub of Nhon Trach. The proposed funding model is a public-private partnership using a combination of build-operate-transfer and build-transfer models

From Jan-Aug 2025, Vietnam welcomed 443,000 Indian visitors, +42.2% YoY. On 9 Sep, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism organised a tourism promotion and networking program in Hyderabad. VNAT’s Vice Chairman said that the country is tailoring its tourism offerings to the Indian market, focusing on products like MICE tourism, destination weddings, and spiritual tours, while the increasing presence of Indian restaurants is aimed at enhancing the comfort of visitors

On 7 Sep, hundreds of tourists were left stranded overnight on Cat Ba Island after ferry services to the mainland were abruptly stopped. The operating company, the Hai Phong Waterway Traffic Safety Corporation, stated that it had exhausted its daily quota of 48 trips for the Dong Bai - Cai Vieng route, despite many visitors arriving before the scheduled 6pm last departure. The Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People's Committee publicly criticised the operators and demanded a review of the incident by 13 Sep. He also ordered that the ferry terminal be upgraded before 20 Sep to ease congestion and that operators must publish clear schedules and add more vessels during peak times

From Jan-Sep 2025, Lang Son province welcomed an estimated 3.66 million visitors, +5.6% YoY, reaching 90.1% of its annual target. Revenue from tourism reached 3.18 trillion VND, +16.3% YoY. The province is promoting its newly recognised UNESCO Global Geopark to attract investors and tourists

Vietnam's growing middle class is creating a new demand for quality elderly care and retirement services. The country has the potential to combine this with wellness tourism to attract both domestic and international seniors. While the national strategy supports this, experts noted that the sector currently faces challenges such as a lack of geriatric specialists, an unclear legal framework, and competition from well-established markets like Thailand and Singapore. Experts recommend a long-term strategy focusing on transparent regulations, public-private partnerships, land zoning for retirement projects, and training a skilled, bilingual workforce

Phu Quoc’s Corona Resort & Casino recorded a substantial loss of $21 million USD in H1 2025. By Jun 2025, the company's total cumulative losses had reached $208 million USD. The company's debt-to-equity ratio from 14.09 to 20.38 times in one year, with bond debt remaining high at $285 million USD. In contrast, Royal International Corporation (RIC), which operates the Royal Ha Long Casino in Quang Ninh province, reported a profit of over $22,000 USD for H1 2025. The company's revenue in H1 was nearly $2.9 million USD, +21% YoY. The Royal International Corporation targets $7.2 million USD in revenue and $1.3 million USD in net profit for the whole 2025

HCMC plans to invest around $62 million USD between 2025-2030 to modernise and expand its waterway transport network. Experts highlighted that the current waterway and riverside tourism infrastructure is underdeveloped and fragmented, with most services limited to the inner city. The proposed plan will create a comprehensive network linking HCMC, Binh Duong, and Vung Tau. This includes developing new urban routes to connect residential and commercial areas like Thu Thiem and Phu My Hung; establishing high-speed ferry lines to places such as Can Gio; upgrading key ports like Bach Dang Wharf and Cau Da Wharf; and creating new riverside stops with local food, markets, and eco-tourism sites. The project will be implemented through a public–private partnership (PPP) using a Build-Own-Operate (BOO) model. Revenue will be generated from commercial and tourism services

The travel technology provider Amadeus has expanded its presence in Vietnam by providing advanced cloud-based solutions to leading online travel consolidators and startups, including Hong Ngoc Ha Travel, En Vi et, and PNR Travel. The technology enables partners to launch their own B2B platforms, which helps to decentralise digital ticketing capabilities and create a more competitive sub-agent ecosystem

The World Bank reduced its economic growth forecast for Vietnam's GDP to 6.6% from a previous 6.8% for 2025, which is also lower than the Vietnamese government's official target of 8.3%–8.5% growth. The cut is attributed to the impact of U.S. tariffs on Vietnamese exports. Oxford Economics reported that Vietnam's goods export value was -3.6% MoM in Aug 2025 on a seasonally adjusted basis. However, government data indicated a 14.5% YoY increase in exports for Aug, and a 2.6% MoM rise. The World Bank projects that economic growth will ease further to 6.1% in 2026 before recovering to 6.5% in 2027. This recovery is expected to be supported by a rebound in global trade and Vietnam's ongoing attractiveness as a competitive manufacturing base

The Prime Minister set a target for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project to begin on 19 Dec 2025. He instructed the Ministry of Construction to prepare a feasibility study and to finalise the project's standards and regulations by Oct, in cooperation with the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment is responsible for addressing all land, forest, and environmental issues. The PM said that the project's funding will come from a combination of public investment and loans

After the administrative merger, in Jul and Aug alone, the new Thai Nguyen province welcomed nearly 1.5 million visitors, including over 61,000 international tourists. This figure is almost a third of the combined total for the former Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan provinces in the whole of 2024. During the 4-day National Day holiday, the area received more than 240,000 visitors, +40,000 YoY. Total tourism revenue for Jul and Aug reached nearly 1,500 billion VND. Revenue during the National Day holiday was estimated at 156 billion VND, a 28 billion VND increase from 2024. The average room occupancy rate was around 50%, with some hotels in Phan Dinh Phung ward reaching between 80% -100%. The Ba Be Lake welcomed over 2,000 visitors during the holiday

From 13 Sep-15 Oct, Lam Dong province is hosting a month-long tourism programme, following its merger with Dak Nong and Binh Thuan. The initiative includes a new "One trip – Three experiences" tour that combines landscapes, flowers, sea, and culture. The province is also holding a trade fair from 12-17 Sep to showcase local products and is offering discounts of up to 50% at restaurants and hotels

Vietnam saw 14 million international arrivals from Jan-Aug 2025, +21.7% YoY, and 1.68 million in Aug 2025 alone, the biggest number ever for August, +7.8% MoM and +16.5% YoY. Air travel accounted for 11.9 million visitors from Jan-Aug 2025, 85.2% of the total, land arrivals was 1.9 million and sea rivals 187,800. Tourism revenue from Jan-Aug 2025 was $2.32 billion USD, +20.3% YoY. Top source markets for Jan-Aug 2025 were China (3.5 million, accounting for a 25.4% share of total arrivals), Korea (2.9 million, 20.9%), Taiwan, the US, Japan, Cambodia, India, Russia, Australia and Malaysia. Russia has seen a 164.9% YoY arrivals, whilst Indian arrivals grew to 387,000, +42.5% YoY. Vietnam is planning to hold tourism promotion events in Bengaluru and Hyderabad

The 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment, held in Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia, recognised Xuan Thuy National Park, Pu Mat National Park and Dong Nai Culture and Nature Reserve as ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs)

Agoda released its list of most popular rural destinations in Asia. Cameron Highlands in Malaysia ranked first, followed by Khao Yai National Park (Thailand) in 2nd place, Puncak (Indonesia) in 3rd place, and Sapa (Vietnam) in 6th place

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), during the 4-day National Day holiday (30 Aug-2 Sep): Vietnam welcomed around 5.5 million visitors, +83.3% YoY National tourism revenue was estimated at $170.45 million USD, +80% YoY Average hotel occupancy nationwide reached 83%, +22.6% YoY The Head of the VNAT said that issues remained in traffic congestion in certain areas, a shortage of hotels in Hanoi, and adverse weather conditions that affecting tourism in parts of the country

According to the UOB ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study 2025: Vietnam scored 67, the highest in the region and a 3-point increase from 2024 Vietnamese consumers showed strong confidence in their country's stability: 83% were confident about economic stability, 82% about political stability, and 81% about social stability The overall ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Index rose one point to 54 E-wallets and scan-to-pay services are the most dominant digital financial products in the region, particularly in Vietnam and Indonesia A majority of ASEAN consumers (58%) have emergency funds to cover at least 3-6 months of expenses, however, Vietnam's figure for this was slightly lower at 57%

Typhoon Kajiki caused an estimated $109.8 million USD in damages. The storm resulted in 8 fatalities, 1 person missing, and 77 people injured. Over 38,600 homes were damaged, with 510 completely collapsing. 2.7km of riverbank and 11 dykes were breached in Thanh Hoa province alone. Over 2.5 million electricity customers suffered power outages, with more than 3,500 power poles toppled. 102 boats and ships were sunk or damaged. Widespread flooding affected low-lying areas, including parts of Hanoi, where thousands of households were submerged

HCMC launched a new tourism stimulus programme, offering over $152,000 USD in e-vouchers for tourists. The programme runs until the end of 2025, involving a comprehensive network of airlines, hotels, and other services to provide a seamless visitor experience

According to the 2025 national tour operators’ conference held in HCMC on 5 Sep: International searches for tourism in Vietnam grew by 10%-25% since the start of 2025, placing the country seventh globally for search volume Vietnam is currently seeing more search interest than other key Southeast Asian destinations like the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia The strongest search interest is coming from the U.S., India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea (RoK), the U.K., Malaysia, and China The top 10 most-searched destinations are HCMC, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hoi An, Vung Tau, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, and Hue Vung Tau and Ninh Binh have seen the highest growth rates, exceeding 75%

On 3 Sep, Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism (MoT) met with Vietnamese tourism companies Saigontourist Group and Vietravel to develop new tour packages and promote Cambodia. The MoT and Saigontourist Group agreed to organise exploratory tours and work with Cambodia's private sector to develop new packages, while Vietravel agreed to organise a future tour to explore tourism potential and design joint packages. The Minister urged the Vietnamese companies to help counter false narratives about Cambodia's safety, reassuring that the country is secure for both tourists and investors