Vietnam

Nonstop downpours from late 23 Jul night, caused by heavy rains from Storm Prapiroon, caused significant flooding in Hanoi's districts of Chuong My, Hoai Duc, and Thanh Tri, resulting in vehicle paralysis and traffic congestion. Bui Xa village was completely isolated by floodwaters, with some areas over 1 metre deep. Streets and highways were covered in floodwaters, causing vehicle disruption

Nearly 3,900 tourists were stranded on Cat Ba Island due to Typhoon Prapiroon, including 430 international visitors. Damages included flooding in low-lying areas, toppling of large trees, uprooting of newly-planted trees, fallen trees, dismantled fences, and broken traffic signs. Ha Long City experienced 3 landslides and flooding in 3 underpasses. The Chairman of the People’s Committee of the Hai Phong district said that local accommodations were mobilised to support tourists, with hotels urged to reduce service prices by 50%. The People's Committee of Phu Long Commune provided free accommodation and meals for 29 stranded passengers

HCMC plans to construct 3 international passenger boat terminals in the Can Gio coastal urban area, Mui Den Do, and Ben Nghe port as parts of the city's General Planning adjustment project until 2040, with a vision to 2060, and are pending approval from the Prime Minister, according to the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Transport. The terminals will have modern facilities, including docking areas, luxurious reception zones, dining, shopping, and entertainment services to enhance tourist experiences. The Department of Tourism said that cruise tourists spend an average of $100 USD per day

Nearly 6,000 tourists were stranded on Cat Ba and Co To islands due to Storm Prapiroon. 888 tourists, including 9 foreigners, were stranded on Co To island, and 1,002 tourists were stranded in Van Don district. Thousands of tourists left Cat Ba Island after authorities declared that inland waterway transport, ferries, cable cars, and amusement services on the island would be suspended starting noon of 22 Jul. A spokesperson for the Ha Long Bay Management Board said that by 3pm 22 Jul, all tourists visiting the bay and the 398 cruise ships operating in the province returned to shore safely

Khanh Hoa Province is hosting a souvenir design contest, which aims to seek signature designs to be used as gifts for local, international visitors and diplomats

From 5-7 Sep, the 18th HCMC International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2024) will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center. The event is expected to attract over 500 businesses and entities from the tourism sector, facilitating 10,000 B2B appointments, combining both in-person and online exhibitions to connect and share information globally. Over 500 exhibitors will participate, including international tourism agencies, local tourism associations, travel companies, accommodation providers, airlines, and transportation firms

Ben Thanh Tourist will organise free walking tours in HCMC starting from 22 Jul, open to both Vietnamese and foreign tourists with an English-speaking guide

The Deputy Director of the HCMC’s Department of Tourism said that the city will encourage restaurants and hotels to cook halal food for Muslim customers from India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. She added that HCMC does not have programs targeting tourists based on separate religions, while many visitors to the city are Muslims, and Indian visitors are among the top 8 tourist groups in HCMC for 2022–2023

According to the Da Nang’s Department of Tourism, during the 5 days of the Đa Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2024, Da Nang's tourist accommodations served 360,662 visitors, +12% compared to DIFF 2023, including 138,037 international visitors (+33%) and 222,625 domestic visitors (+2%). Throughout the event, lasting from 8 Jun - 13 Jul, over 1.5 million visitors were accommodated, +60% compared to DIFF 2023. Accordingly, Da Nang’s revenue from accommodation, dining, and travel services in Jun 2024 was estimated at 16,344 billion VND, +28.2% YoY. In H1 2024, the city’s revenue from dining and lodging services reached 13,000 billion VND, +22.2% YoY, contributing to the economy growth of 5% in the period

Vietnam has launched the "National Park Passport" initiative, covering 34 national parks in the initial phase, to promote ecotourism in national parks and attract tourists. The Director of the Centre for Wildlife Conservation in Vietnam said that the Vietnam Association of National Parks and Conservation Areas will be responsible for issuing the passports, and electronic passports will be available on websites. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development plans to widely promote ecotourism through apps, passports, and media channels

On 18 Jul, Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to consider waiving visas for more countries, to facilitate foreign tourist arrivals, and increase competitiveness among other Asian countries

The General Secretary of the Party Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong passed away on 19 Jul 2024 at the Central Military Hospital 108, after suffering from a severe illness

Binh Thuan Province is implementing various summer tourism promotions, with tourism businesses offering room discounts, fishing services, meals, and massages. According to the Binh Thuan Tourism Information and Promotion Centre, hotel occupancy is around 70%, peaking on weekends, and most pre-bookings come from travel agencies and tour companies primarily serving markets in HCMC, the southern provinces, and the Central Highlands. In H1 2024, Binh Thuan received 4.58 million tourists, +5.01% YoY, with international visitors totalling 234,000, primarily from South Korea, China, Russia, and Germany. Tourism revenue reached nearly 12 trillion VND. Binh Thuan aims to welcome 9.5 million visitors in 2024

According to a recent Reboot Retreats survey by Booking.com with 1,007 Vietnamese travellers: - 67% of the Vietnamese survey participants are interested in sleep-focused vacations in 2024 - 62% of single Vietnamese travellers aim to find romance or a new partner during their vacation - 38% prefer to use their travel time to recover from a breakup - 66% of parents in the Asia-Pacific region desire a private trip to reconnect with themselves - A representative from Booking.com said that Reboot Retreats are expected to dominate in 2024 and continue growing in popularity in the following years, with Hoi An, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Ninh Binh, and Moc Chau suitable destinations for this activity

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, in H1 2024, 231,000 Indian tourists visited Vietnam, +164% YoY. The Mastercard's "Travel Trends 2024 report identifies Vietnam as a favoured destination for Indian tourists. According to experts, the short flight duration of 4-5 hours, increasing number of direct flights, competitive prices of 10-15% lower than other regional destinations, rich tourism resources and infrastructure in places such as Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, Hanoi, HCMC, make Vietnam an appealing place to travel among Indians. The Head of Department of Tourism Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities said that it is essential to train and improve knowledge and skills for staff serving Indian tourists. A representative from the Tourism Development Research Institute said that Indian tourists often travel with families or groups of friends, and rarely travel alone. He added that they prefer beautiful resorts and parties, often choose above-average service levels, plan their trips online, favour shopping, outdoor activities, visiting museums, cultural and historical sites

Kien Giang Maritime Authority resumed high-speed boat and ferry services between Nam Du Island and Rach Gia City on 16 Jul after a 3-day suspension due to rough seas, bringing 700 tourists home after being stranded on the island. The Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee in An Son commune said that the locality has provided hundreds of free meals and reduced room rates for stranded tourists

According to a survey conducted by Rankify Korea based on Google Trend Index and Naver search volumes, comparing data from the first week of Jul with the last week of Jun 2024, Phu Quoc ranked first, Khanh Hoa ranked second, followed by Tokyo, for the most preferred destinations by Korean. Phu Quoc Island is popular with Korean women, making up 67% of the survey data. The top 15 also includes Hanoi, Bangkok, Phuket and Kuala Lumpur

The HCMC’s Department of Tourism, in collaboration with the HCMC Tourism Association and Vietnam Airlines, launched a programme that encourages lodging establishments to create packages combining night flight air tickets with hotel stays, offering free or discounted price for first-night stays, and up to 60% discount for the second night. As of 8 Jul, 16 establishments had registered for the programme

In Jun 2024, the municipal Department of Tourism met the Director of the Tourism and Travel Bureau of Taichung city of Taiwan, and the Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam to promote mutual tourism between localities

From 4-6 Oct, the Hanoi Department of Tourism will organise the Hanoi Tourism Ao Dai Festival 2024 at the Thang Long Heritage Conservation Centre, featuring around 80-100 booths showcasing products from designers and Ao Dai brands from the North, Central, and South regions of Vietnam. In 2023, the festival attracted around 60,000 visitors

The Deputy Director of Kon Tum’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said that the province is cooperating with tourism provinces and cities in Vietnam to create new tours connecting Kon Tum with these localities, focusing on attracting tourists from ASEAN countries, Northeast Asia, Europe, and America. She added that the province welcomes visitors via the Bo Y International Border Gate, located at the tri-border area of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, serving as a key trade hub. Representatives from companies in the region said that challenges include lengthy immigration procedures, legal barriers in investment and building tourism areas, the lack of skills and experience of local people. In H1 2024, Kon Tum welcomed over 1.56 million visitors, generating tourism revenue of $16.7 million USD

On 14 Jul, prolonged rains caused flooding in Cua Duong Commune on Phu Quoc Island, flooding some areas over a metre deep in water. Water entered houses, with depths of nearly a metre in some places and 20-30 cm in others, damaging belongings. A resident attributed the severity of flooding to excessive concrete construction and encroachment on rivers and streams, reducing the percolation of rainfall into the ground, and narrowing their flow. According to the Kien Giang hydrometeorological station, a tropical depression in the East Sea caused the rains

On 15 Jul, Da Nang City’s tourism promotion centre launched the “Enjoy Da Nang Again” program in Seoul, with 70 representatives from South Korean travel agencies and air services to attract more tourists from the country. According to the centre, in H1 2024, 822,000 South Korean tourists booked rooms in Da Nang, making up 41% of the city's international visitors. A South Korean travel agency will host a golf tournament in Da Nang

According to Iran’s Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, only 3,000 Iranians visited Vietnam in 2023. Besides visa-waiving policies, he said that Iran is working to arrange direct flights between the 2 countries, and upgrade the tourism cooperation MoU with Vietnam

In Jul, Quang Tri province introduced various tourism products, including the Festival for Peace 2024. The Vice Director of the provincial Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department said that the province has installed smart lighting and sound systems at national relic sites and introduced nighttime tourism activities to enhance tourists’ experience and keep them staying longer. The Director of the Quang Tri Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Centre said that the centre has promoted tourism products on platforms like Zalo, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, collaborated with major hotels to introduce local tourism products, and called for investment on local tourism development

On 10 Jul, the Da Nang City Department of Tourism organised a tourism promotion program in Seoul, introducing new and unique tourism products, and facilitating connections between tourism businesses in Da Nang, Quang Nam, Hue, and South Korea. According to the Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People’s Committee, in H1 2024, nearly 823,000 Korean tourists visited Da Nang, over 41% of the total international tourists, close to 2023’s total figure of 935,000 Korean tourists, and 50% of pre-pandemic levels

The People's Committee of Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, has mandated an investigation into fraudulent rental accommodation activities revolving around a Vietnamese-American woman being scammed when booking accommodation through 2 booking websites. The Culture and Information Office is tasked with disseminating information on state-recognized lodging facilities to inform residents and tourists, and the People's Committees of wards and communes must update lists of operating lodging facilities

According to the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, public workers will have a 4-day break from 31 Aug - 3 Sep 2024. The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) is selling tickets for routes departing from Aug to the end of 2024, including for the 2 Sep National Day holiday, with discounts available on popular routes connecting with Hanoi and HCMC. Various discounts of up to 15% are also available for long-distance trips, round-trip tickets, and group purchase

On 11 Jul, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, in collaboration with IV COM Joint Stock Company, launched a new virtual reality (VR) experience for tourists visiting the Hue Imperial Citadel. The centre plans to continue collaborating with partners to develop more immersive VR experiences for tourists as part of the "Exploring the Lost Imperial City” programme. In H1 2024, 1.9 million tourists visited Hue, +24% YoY, including over 821,000 foreigners, driving tourism revenue to reach $157.3 million USD, +11% YoY. The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre sells an average of 10,000 tickets per day

The Prime Minister said that Vietnam should research building a 350 kmph North-South railway, spanning 1,541 km, passing through 20 localities, and that it should be completed by 2035. He added that the railways would primarily transport passengers but also have the capability to transport goods. The existing north-south railway will be upgraded to accommodate transportation of goods, tourists, and short-distance passengers, requiring a total investment of $67.32 billion USD, and to be completed before 2025

The Ninh Bình Tourism Department and Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) signed an MoU for 2024-2030, aiming to enhance travel convenience and introduce local destinations linked to Vietnam's railway sector,increasing the number of visitors to the province. The partnership also aims at creating railway travel programs to attract visitors nationwide. The Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee said that in H1 2024, Ninh Binh welcomed over 6.28 million tourists, including more than 500,000 foreigners, +38% YoY, with tourism revenue exceeding $236 million USD. +150% YoY

From 20-23 Sep, the provincial Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Culture and Sports, the Hot Air Balloon Association, the Ninh Binh Tourism Association, and Ballooning Media International Ballooning Company, will host the Trang An - Cuc Phuong Hot Air Balloon Festival in Ninh Binh province, promoting new tourism products to attract more visitors. Around 120 booths will showcase local specialties and regional OCOP products throughout the festival, with activities including hot air balloons, light shows, music, dance, and art activities each night

On 9 Jul, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT)'s information centre launched a promotional video, as part of a media campaign showcasing scenic views from the North-South railway journey, to celebrate the 64th anniversary of Vietnam's railway sector (1960-2024). According to the VNAT, 10 million domestic and 1.5 million foreign tourists travelled by train in Vietnam in 2023, +15% YoY, and +20% YoY respectively

After 2 months of operations, Phu Quoc Express announced the temporary suspension of the Thang Long ferry on the HCMC – Con Dao route from 29 Jul until further notice. The General Director of Phu Quoc Express said that the passenger numbers on the route were below expectations, and transfer issues reduced the route's attractiveness

HCMC has announced a series of short films under the theme ‘Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City’, featuring 100 interesting activities in the city and famous eateries listed by the Michelin Guide, to attract tourists. The film also promotes medical tourism, showcasing the city’s healthcare facilities and professionals. The Director of the municipal Department of Tourism said that the film series is one of the city's 10 tourism communication products, focusing on waterway tourism, entertainment, and the city's strengths, helping to promote the city's tourism brand, official channels, and digital tourism products

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, in H1 2024, Lao Cai province earned $531.18 million USD from tourism services, +24% YoY, welcoming over 4.1 million visitors, 48.67% of its annual target. It said that farmstays, one of the new products, have become popular. Lao Cai province is coordinating with domestic and foreign localities to host large-scale events include Bac Ha White Plateau Festival, Rose and Love Festival, Triathlon tournament, Sa Pa Snow Festival, and International Tourism Fair 2024

From 24-29 Aug 2024, 6 northern mountainous provinces, including Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, and Ha Giang, will collaborate to organise the 15th “Through the Heritage Regions of Viet Bac” tourism program, featuring a beauty contest, a cycling race, OCOP products, culinary festivals, paintings and photo exhibitions, and a tour guide competition. At a tourism promotion conference held in Da Nang on 8 Jul, tourism sectors of the 6 provinces signed cooperation agreements with tourism businesses in Da Nang to attract visitors to the festival

From 26-28 Dec, the Vietnam Salt Craft Festival will be held for the first time in Bac Lieu province, featuring a field survey program on Bac Lieu’s salt fields, the inauguration of the upgraded infrastructure project, product fairs, trade exhibitions, investment promotion conferences, seminars, and tours of local attractions. In 2020, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recognised Bac Lieu’s salt craft as a national intangible cultural heritage

In H1 2024, revenue from lodging and food services reached $14 billion USD, +15.2% YoY, driving the service sector growth by 6.64% and contributing 49.76% to GDP. Around 15 localities reported tourism revenue of over 10 trillion VND each, 6 more than H1 2023. According to the Binh Dinh provincial Tourism Department, in H1 2024, the province served 5.6 million tourists and earned 15 trillion VND, +106% YoY and 96.9% YoY, respectively. Vingroup's establishment of For Green Future (FGF) Trading and Services Joint Stock Company, which specialises in trading and leasing electric cars, is expected to boost domestic tourism in Hanoi, Da Nang, HCMC, and Hue

According to Kyowon Tour Travel Easy’s analysis for Q3 2024, Vietnam surpassed Japan to become the top foreign destination for Korean tourists, with Vietnam's reservation rate reaching 13.7%, while Japan's was 13.2%. China ranked third with 11.7%, Thailand ranked fourth with 7.1%, followed by Mongolia. The analysis also showed that for the Chuseok holiday from 14-22 Sep, 14.4% of Korean tourists have booked destinations in Vietnam, while that of Japan and China are 17%, and 14.7% respectively

On 1 Jul, Banyan Group opened Angsana Quan Lan - the group’s latest resort, featuring 156 rooms, suites with views of the Gulf of Tonkin, a rooftop mini-golf course, and a coastal zipline integrated into a resort, outdoor and indoor pools

The Ha Long Bay Management Board has recently released a draft resolution to revise and increase sightseeing fees for the Bay's scenic areas. The Board proposed collecting fees on 3 new routes, ranging from 75,000 to 150,000 VND, together with a fee for half-day tours, covering all 5 routes at a price of 600,000 VND per adult, and informed that it is collecting feedback from stakeholders impacted by the fees and plans to submit their report to the provincial People’s Committee by Jul 2024. Passenger fees, service fee for tourist boats, security and public lighting fee, and mooring fee for boats also increased, together with the 2 sightseeing routes’ ticket fees. Route 1’s fee increased from 440,000 VND to 460,000 VND, and route 2’s fee increased from 490,000 to 510,000 VND

According to the municipal Department of Statistics, Da Nang welcomed about 5.1 million visitors in H1 2024, 2 million of whom were foreigners, +40.3% YoY, the rest domestic, +17.7% YoY. On average, tourists spent only 1.38 days in Da Nang, with foreign and domestic visitors staying for an average of 1.45 days and 1.31 days respectively, showing tourists’ preference in travelling to multiple destinations. The department reported that local travel firms are facing financial difficulties in upgrading and developing new products and services, and high air fares are driving tourists to nearby destinations or abroad. The Director of the department called on adding more direct flights between Da Nang and international destinations, focusing on attracting tourists who travel by sea and road and enhance the promotion of rail tours

On 3 Jul, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) hosted the Vietnam Tourism Roadshow in Moscow, as part of Vietnamese Cultural Days 2024 in Russia, celebrating 30 years of Vietnam-Russia relations. In 2019, 650,000 Russian tourists visited Vietnam, ranking 6th among top markets. Popular sites for Russian tourists include Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Hoi An

At the recent Vietnam - South Korea Tourism Promotion and Cultural Cooperation Forum, the Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador to South Korea quoted a report by the Asian Development Bank, saying Vietnam ranked second in Southeast Asia regarding the readiness for smart tourism. He outlined the proposal for an international QR code payment initiative for tourists, which is being developed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s Promotion Office in South Korea, the State Bank of Vietnam, and relevant stakeholders to facilitate seamless transactions and VAT refunds. It is hoped that this could be launched within a year. The initiative aims to reduce card payment fees and currency exchange costs, enhancing convenience for tourists and improving tax management efficiency

From 6-17 Jul, the first-ever Quang Binh Tourism Week will take place, featuring a conference on developing rural and community-based tourism, an art program, a low-altitude fireworks show, and a carnival. During the week, new tourism products and services will be introduced at local tourist sites, with local destinations and cuisine being showcased on a digital platform. Quang Binh aims to welcome 4.5-5 million visitors in 2024. In H1 2024, revenue from accommodation, catering, and travel services were +16.9%, +10.4%, and +38.1% respectively

In H1 2024, Indian visitor arrivals to Vietnam increased by 312% compared to pre-pandemic levels. According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the annual growth rate of Indian arrivals was 26.7% during 2015-2019. In 2023, 392,000 Indian tourists visited Vietnam, +231% compared to pre-pandemic levels. A representative from travel company Nikatour said that India is a demanding market considering culinary and religious aspects, and travel agencies need to tailor the products to meet the needs of different Indian visitor groups, including tour bookers, rich and urban families, solo and female travellers, and high-end tourists

From Jan-Jun 2024, Chinese tourist arrivals to Vietnam were +230% YoY, while those of Taiwan were +96% YoY, South Korean +42% YoY, and Japanese +39% YoY. South Korea and Mainland China together accounted for 47% of international arrivals. During the period, Southeast Asia also saw an increasing number of visitors coming to Vietnam, with Indonesia +116% YoY, the Philippines +57% YoY, Laos +20% YoY, Singapore +9.8% YoY, Malaysia +9% YoY. The number of arrivals from the U.K., Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, and Italy all +29% YoY or above thanks to the visa relaxation policy

From 5-9 Jul, Phong Dien District and Can Tho’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism co-organised the annual Phong Dien – Can Tho Eco-tourism Festival, introducing specialties and tourism products to local and international visitors. 48 ecotourism areas and orchards offered activities like boat riding, fishing, and fruit picking. The festival is expected to attract 40,000 visitors

The manager at Melia Ba Vi Mountain Retreat said that camping in the park has become more popular among Hanoi locals, who have registered for the resort’s service this summer

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, Khanh Hoa province welcomed nearly 5.2 million visitors in H1 2024, +88% YoY, generating tourism revenue of $1.02 billion USD, +97% YoY, with most of the tourists coming from Korea, China, Kazakhstan, Thailand, and Malaysia. Director of the department said that in Jun alone, tourist arrivals to Khanh Hoa rose by 13% YoY to 1.3 million, including over 370,000 foreigners, +54% YoY, with tourism revenue expected to exceed 6 trillion VND, +12% YoY. According to the Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, the Nha Trang Sea Tourism Festival in Jun attracted 400,000 visitors. From 13-20 Jul, Nha Trang will host the International Light Bay Festival, a drone display featuring competitions between teams from China, France, the Republic of Korea, and the UAE, and other sport tournaments during the summer

According to Coc Coc search platform’s Q2 Search Trend Report: - "April 30th holiday" is the most popular search keyword - Dien Bien Phu became the second most searched keyword in the tourism sector and the most trending in domestic tourism on the platform, driven by the 70th anniversary, a 443% increase in search volume - Phu Yen, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc have search growth rates of 52%, 35%, and 19% respectively QoQ - Other frequently searched destinations include Hai Phong, Ninh Binh, Da Lat, Hue, and Hoi An - Booking applications and airlines remain popular for search content - "Weather" has become the most searched keyword in the tourism category in Q2 due to sudden and more intense weather events like heat waves and thunderstorms

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism for the Jan-Jun 2024 period: - HCMC ranked first in tourism revenue, reaching 93 trillion VND, +15% YoY - Hanoi ranked second with tourism revenue of 55.4 trillion VND, +23% YoY - Khanh Hoa province ranked third with revenue of 26 trillion VND, +97% YoY - Quang Ninh province ranked fourth with revenue of 22.2 trillion VND, +34% YoY, attracting over 10.4 million visitors, +18% YoY, 2 million are international - Thanh Hoa province ranked fifth with revenue of 19.8 trillion VND - Other localities with revenues over 10 trillion VND include Nghe An, Da Nang, Binh Dinh, Kien Giang, and Binh Thuan - The Vietnam’s tourism industry generated 436.5 trillion VND, a 1.3-fold increase YoY

The Managing Director of Fortuna Investments said that the Vietnamese gaming market is approaching saturation due to the oversupply of gaming clubs, causing operational challenges, and many previously profitable clubs have closed due to the pandemic, requiring investment to reopen. He added that Vietnam lacks a unified gaming law, regulatory agency, or licensing structure, and electronic gaming clubs are restricted to foreign passport holders. Additionally, the Managing Director shared that the gaming machine market is currently dominated by expensive suppliers like Aristocrat and Interblock, creating opportunities for cost-effective competitors

According to a report by the HCMC Statistics Office, in Jun 2024: - HCMC’s revenue from lodging and food services was estimated at 11.123 trillion VND, accounting for 11.2% of total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue, +3.5% MoM, +3.0% YoY -Accommodation revenue alone grew +2.1% MoM, +19.1% YoY - Food services revenue alone grew +3.7% MoM, +0.9% YoY - Revenue from travel services was estimated at 3.917 trillion VND, +19.6% MoM, +55.5% YoY In H1 2024: - HCMC’s tourism revenue reached around 92.643 trillion VND, +14.6% YoY and 49% of the total target for 2024 - Domestic arrivals totalled over 17.1 million, +4.4% YoY, 45.1% of the annual plan - International arrivals were estimated at nearly 2.68 million, +38% YoY, 44.6% of the annual plan - Revenue from lodging and food services reached 62.523 trillion VND, +8.1% YoY, of which the accommodation sector grew by 43.3% - Revenue from travel services totalled 19.049 trillion VND, +63.3% YoY In H2 2024, total revenue from the sales of goods and consumer services is estimated to reach 284.042 trillion VND, +5.9% YoY

The Director of the Civil Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) reported that Vietnamese airlines hold a 44% share of the international passenger market with average seat utilisation rates exceeding 77%. By summer 2024, 63 foreign airlines and 4 Vietnamese airlines had restored international routes to pre-pandemic levels and expanded routes to new markets in Central Asia, India, and Australia. South Korea remains the top market with 5.3 million passengers in H1 2024, China saw an increase to 2.5 million passengers, +300% YoY, +62% compared to 2019, becoming the second-largest international market in Q2 2024. In 2024, the CAAV targets 78.3 million passengers, +7.7% YoY, of which 34.8 million are domestic and 43.5 million are international, and 1.21 million tons of cargo, +13.4% YoY. It is said that the CAAV will facilitate the establishment of new airline routes and increase direct flights between Vietnam and other countries, with a focus on resuming international flights to Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, and Da Lat

From 4-7 Jul, the Da Nang People’s Committee and the Japanese General Consulate in Da Nang will organise the Vietnam-Japan Cultural Festival, featuring cultural performances, a tourism promotion conference, painting exhibitions, sport demonstrations, tea-making and tasting activities

According to the Hanoi’s Department of Tourism, the city has 3,760 lodging establishments with 71,246 room keys, of which 607 hotels and apartment complexes are labelled 1 to 5 stars, equalling 26,641 rooms. The majority of guests in 4- and 5-star hotels are business travellers or short-term tourists. Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism said that Hanoi lacks large-scale hotels offering more than 1,000 rooms with comprehensive services, and suggested lodging facilities partner with leisure and entertainment services to develop tourism packages. The department is launching a series of experiences at local 4- and 5-star hotels. Director of the Department of Tourism proposed accommodation providers to collaborate with airlines and travel agencies in an effort to extend visitors’ stay

According to a survey by Mustgo for the summer travel season: - The room occupancy rate of Vung Tau on weekdays is 30-40% for 3 and 4-star hotels, about 25-30% for 5-star properties, -50% YoY - The occupancy rates of Phan Thiet on weekdays are around 40-50% - Da Lat hotels are nearly full during weekends but have around 60% occupancy during weekdays - 4 and 5-star hotels in Quy Nhon have an overall occupancy rate of over 50%, many rooms remained unoccupied in Jun - Both international and local 4 and 5 star beachfront hotels in Nha Trang have an occupancy rate of only 50-60% in Jun and Jul - Some local 5-star resorts in Cam Ranh have occupancy rates of 70-90%, while their international ones are around 60% - 4 and 5-star hotels in Phu Quoc average 50% occupancy, with many unoccupied room in Jun. In Jul, occupancy rates improved slightly, with centrally located 3 and 4-star hotels exceeding 60% - Weekend occupancy rates at 3-5-star properties in Sa Pa are between 60-70% - 4 and 5-star hotels in Quang Ninh reached an average occupancy rate of 80-90% in Jun, with full occupancy on weekends and 30-50% on weekdays - Da Nang remains a prime destination, particularly with a fireworks festival held every weekend in Jun. Central 3-star hotels and beachfront 4 and 5-star hotels maintain over 70% room occupancy - Marketing Director at Vietnam Tourism said that destinations dependent on air travel like Phu Quoc have seen a drop in popularity among northern tourists due to high transportation costs, while places like Sa Pa, Moc Chau, Ha Long, and Thanh Hoa have reported high booking rates

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) collaborated with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Frankfurt to organise a tourism promotion program, where Vietnamese and German travel firms share experiences and promote exchanges. The General Director of VNAT said that in 2023, 200,000 German tourists visited Vietnam, 88% of pre-pandemic levels, making it the third largest source of tourists from the EU. Collaborative activities include a MoU between Hue Tourism College and FU Education Group for vocational training and German language courses. The Vietnamese Government has waived visas for German visitors since 2015, extending their stay to 45 days from 15 Aug, 2023

TikTok is offering an advertising credit package worth $1 million USD in total to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, with support ranging from $100 to $200 USD in advertising credits for each promotional video produced by partner organisations, in collaboration with the Steering Committee of the "Vietnamese Prioritise Using Vietnamese Goods" campaign. The company will also organise a business summit, and training programs to improve digital transformation skills and build brand identity for local sellers across Vietnam. According to a report by Kantar, 98% of shoppers find new brands or products via TikTok, of which 72% make the purchase

The Vietnamese Government announced the extension of the VAT reduction policy from 10% to 8% until the end of 2024, not applicable to telecommunications, financial services, banking, securities, insurance, real estate services, metals and minerals, refined oil and chemicals, products subject to special consumption tax, and information technology. The VAT reduction is projected to lower government revenues by about 24 trillion VND in H2 2024. In H1 2024, the State budget decreased by around 23.48 trillion VND as a result of the VAT reduction policy

According to the H1 2024 report from the General Statistics Office: - 83.8% of international tourist arrivals were by air (7.4 million), 14.3% by road (1.3 million), and 1.9% by sea (164,900) - Most visitors came from Asia (6.944 million, + 65.7% YoY), followed by Europe (over 1 million, +52.4% YoY), the Americas (536,800, +13.4% YoY), Oceania (266,600, +31.8% YoY), and Africa (25,300, +104.4% YoY) - Service export turnover is expected to reach $11.25 billion USD, +20% YoY, of which tourism services accounted for 53.1% at $6 billion USD, +40.1% YoY - Service import turnover reached $16.11 billion USD, +22% YoY, of which transportation services accounted for 42.7% at $6.9 billion USD, +18.6% YoY. Tourism services accounted for 30.4% at $4.9 billion USD, +52.9% YoY - Thanh Hoa province welcomed 9.8 million visitors - Khanh Hoa province welcomed 5.2 million staying visitors, +88% YoY

The Languidic City Hall, Art Space Association, and Vietnam Bretagne Sud Association co-organised the Vietnam Festival in Languidic city, France, featuring a series of events introducing Vietnamese culture in French schools, performances, a puppet play, photo exhibition, parade, and a concert. About 1,000 French attendees from Languidic and neighbouring cities, and over 100 international students and local Vietnamese in France participated in the festival

In Jun 2024, Hanoi welcomed 2 million domestic tourists, +12.5% YoY, and 496,00 international ones, +55.9%, with revenue of 9.53 trillion VND in total, and room occupancy at 66%, +1.3% MoM, +0.1% YoY

According to Future Market Insights, Vietnam’s tourism revenue is forecasted to hit $135 billion USD by 2033 thanks to its attractions, the simplified visa application process, and visa exemptions

In Jun 2024, Vietnam received 1.2 million international tourists, +28.1% YoY. 83.8% arrived by air, 14.3% by land and 1.9% by sea. Revenue from accommodation and restaurants was estimated to increase +15.2% YoY and travel and tourism 37.1% YoY. Hanoi received over 14 million visitors from Jan-Jun 2024, +13.7% YoY, of which 3.16 million were international, +52.6% YoY

ncreases recorded for revenue from accommodation and restaurants from Jan-Jun 2024 were 25.2% YoY for Quanh Ninh, 22/2% for Da Nang, 15% for Hai Phong, 11.3% for Hanoi, 11.2% for Can Tho, and 8.1% for HCMC

South Korea has extended its pilot program to issue group travel visas for Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, for another 3 years

National Geographic Traveller announced the Topas Ecolodge in Sa Pa as the sole representative from Vietnam in its 2024 list of Lakeside and Mountain Resorts, marking the first recognition of a Vietnamese resort in this category. The resort was recognized in 2017 as one of the top 21 must-experience destinations for its environmental features, and in 2018 as one of the most unique resorts in the world

The People’s Committee of Quang Tri province has approved the Master Plan for the 120-hectare Ba Voi Waterfall Ecotourism Area, dedicated to adventure ecotourism, a resort, nature exploration, and community tourism scattered around 6 zones. The area is planned to be central to the province’s key tourism routes, highlighted on the international tourism map along the East-West Economic Corridor. However, due to lack of investment and service infrastructure basics, the number of tourists visiting the site is currently quite limited

According to the payment platform Payoo’s statistics on foreign tourists visiting Vietnam: - Foreign tourists spend 40% of their budget for foods and drinks - 14% of their budget on fashion and cosmetics - 12% on jewellery and watches - Over 10% on items from supermarkets and convenience stores

According to a new report from Booking.com: - 46% of Vietnamese travellers are considering a long domestic trip in 2024 - 57% of Vietnamese tourists prefer nature trips - 48% seek cultural experiences - 45% prefer beach trips - 36% enjoy city breaks - Solo travellers prefer city breaks, families often opt for nature escapes, groups tend to seek scenic getaways, and couples enjoy a combination of city life and retreats - HCMC was ranked as the top leisure destination among Vietnamese, follow by Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, Hoi An, Ho Noi, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, Quy Nhon in the top 10 - About 44% of Vietnamese are motivated to travel to new places

According to a new report from Booking.com: - 35% of Vietnamese tourists want to take a long international trip in 2024 - Bangkok is the most searched international destination - Wishlist also includes Singapore, Tokyo, Seoul, and Kuala Lumpur - Paris and London rank 4th and 8th in the list, Sydney and Melbourne are also highly desired A Visa survey, Green Shoots Radar study, indicates that: - Vietnamese tourists ranked 5th in spending during Japan’s Sakura season, 74% of the total expenditure of Singaporean travellers, exceeding the average of the Southeast Asian and East Asian countries - Significant spending was seen in Tokyo, Osaka, Chiba, Shizuoka, and Aichi - Over 45% of the spending was recorded on the first day of the trip - 41% of Vietnamese travellers plan leisure trips in the next 6 months - Over 5% increase in Vietnamese using contactless payments during the Sakura season - Spending patterns differed according to income levels, with affluent travellers allocated 20%-30% of their total expenses on accommodation, then shifted their spending towards shopping experiences as their trip progressed - Budget travellers primarily spent their money on dining and shopping

The Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) reported that the tourism confidence index stood at 79 in Q2 2024, down from 81 in Q1. TCT President attributed the decline to the delay in fiscal budget disbursement and the low tourism season, as well as the extreme heatwave discouraging tourists to travel. Hotels reported a 55% occupancy rate in Q2, down from 60% in Q1. Revenue of all tourism businesses has recovered to only 48% of 2019 levels. Employment rate in the tourism industry reached 99% in Q2, up from 87% in Q1. The TCT President said that despite the growing workforce, the sector still lacked skilled workers, such as those with foreign language skills, or with specific skillsets such as hotel receptionists or spa therapists. He projects the tourism confidence index to further decline to 75 in Q3, attributed to the low season and fewer public holidays, as well as falling domestic consumption, a stagnant industrial sector, and geopolitical risks

ietnam from Jan-Jun 2024 received 8.8 million international arrivals, +58% YoY and +4% vs 2019 levels. The top source markets were South Korea (2.28 million), China (1.89 million), Taiwan (630,000), US (415,000), Japan (335,000), Malaysia (253,000), Australia (243,000), India (239,000), Cambodia (231,000) and Thailand (226,000)

According to the regional plan, the Central Highlands will focus on large production areas and national-level tourism sites from 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. By 2030, the region’s average GRDP per capita will reach $5,100 USD, with agriculture, forestry, and fisheries at 29%, industry and construction at 27%, and services at 38%. Mang Den eco-tourism, Bien Ho - Chu Dang Ya, and areas associated with national parks will be established, while the Southern Central Highlands region will be the centre for high-quality service and resort tourism

The President of the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT) said that the number of tourists travelling between Italy and Vietnam is expected to increase. In 2023, Vietnam welcomed about 57,000 Italian visitors, over 80% of the pre-pandemic level

Tien Giang province leverages its agricultural characteristics to develop tourism, including rural sightseeing, homestays, traditional craft villages, and cultural experiences, which help to protect environmental resources, increase local income, and preserve culture. According to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, currently 16 major tourist sites employ thousands of rural workers. In Thai Son islet, residents transitioned from fishing and aquaculture to tourism activities such as beekeeping, making coconut candy, jams, and handicrafts, and this model expanded to other districts of Tien Giang. Deputy Chairman of Cai Be district said that until now, the sites attracted around 25,000 visitors, +20% YoY, thanks to the collaboration between tour companies and community-based tourism businesses

On 28 Jun, the 2024 Michelin Guide Ceremony was held at the InterContinental Saigon, recognizing 164 establishments in Hanoi, HCMC, and Da Nang, including 7 one Michelin star restaurants, 1 new Michelin Green Star, 58 Bib Gourmand restaurants, and 99 Michelin Selected establishments. Among 29 new Bib Gourmand entries, 16 are from Da Nang. Among the list of Michelin Selected restaurants, 33 are in Hanoi, 47 are in Ho Chi Minh City, and 19 are Da Nang