Vietnam

On 28 Mar, a new high-speed boat service between HCMC and Con Dao Islands will begin operating once daily

According to a study, the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province has an economic value of $213 billion USD, based on 4 pillars: natural ecosystem; cultural and historical significance; heritage-based settlements and livelihoods; and brand spillover value

In the recent report, the World Bank (WB) raised Vietnam's real GDP growth forecast for 2025 to 6.8%, 0.2 percentage points higher than its Jan projection but below the Government's 8% target. The 2026 GDP growth forecast was also revised up to 6.5% (previously 6.3%). The WB Director for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos said that the growth outlook is supported by a recovery in domestic demand but faces risks from global economic uncertainties, and trade disruptions

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), in Feb 2025, Vietnam welcomed nearly 1.9 million international tourists. South Korea and China accounted for over 44% of international arrivals, with 468,000 and 380,000 tourists respectively. Other large contributions are from Taiwan, the U.S., Japan, Cambodia, Australia, Malaysia, India, and Russia (returned to the top 10 with over 79,000 visitors). The number of tourists from Poland was +54.2% YoY and from Switzerland was +14.2% YoY. In Feb 2025, Vietnam also received around 11 million domestic visitors, including 3.8 million overnight stays

Households and government offices around Hoan Kiem Lake will be relocated to build a square-park, and underground space with 3 basement levels connecting to Metro Line 2. Affected households may receive compensation with land in Dong Anh District. The Dong Anh District People's Committee will review around 100 hectares of land for resettlement purposes. Plans for multi-functional underground spaces include public services, culture, commerce, and infrastructure

On 11 Mar, a tourism promotion conference was held in Moscow, with 130 delegates representing Russian and Vietnamese businesses. Nha Trang accounts for up to 50% of Russian visitors to Vietnam. However, Russian tourist arrivals in Vietnam declined in the past 3 years due to the pandemic. Vietnam accounts for 35% of the Russian company One Click Travel’s revenue, with plans to strengthen partnerships, including press tours and influencer trips to promote Vietnam to Russian travellers

Quang Ninh province attracted over 26,000 international cruise visitors in early 2025, primarily from Europe, the Americas, and Northeast Asia. Many ships now stay overnight at Ha Long International Cruise Port, giving tourists more time to explore local attractions. The first charter cruise, Pacific World, operated by Japan’s Peace Boat, will arrive in Quang Ninh on 30 Apr 2025, bringing 1,600 Japanese tourists. Cruise arrivals are projected to grow by 15–20% annually, with increasing visits from international cruise lines

TravelInsurance.com.au’s report showed that 1/3rd of Australians’ international trips in 2025 will be to Southeast Asia. The data shows demand to Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia is expected to surge by 42% in 2025, and Southeast Asia is expected to attract 4 million Australian tourists

Vietnam’s Dak Lak province and Lao’s Attapeu province have signed a cooperation agreement that includes tourism

From 29 Mar - 7 Apr, the Hung Kings Temple Festival will take place in Phu Tho province, with organisers anticipating 4 million visitors. Activities include incense offerings, a palanquin procession, performances, cake wrapping and pounding competitions, and ethnic sports programmes. The Deputy Chairman of the Phu Tho Province's People’s Committee encouraged collaboration with travel companies to create attractive tourism products for attendees

According to the Kon Plong district People’s Committee, in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum, tourist arrivals doubled from 600,000 in 2022 to 1.2 million in 2023, generating $16.45 million USD in revenue. In early 2025, over 370,000 visitors visited the destination and brought in nearly 100 billion VND. In 2024, the district attracted 77 development projects, spanning over 5,000 hectares, with registered capital exceeding 30.33 trillion VND. The district offers 139 accommodation facilities, including resorts, hotels, and homestays, with 1,250 rooms accommodating over 6,000 guests daily. Occupancy rates average 65-70%, increasing to above 90% during holidays and festivals. The Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism highlighted the need to construct 9-10 four- and five-star hotels by 2030

The Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) is responsible for preparing the investment plan for the Hanoi Metro Line No. 5, with the project set to be approved by the Hanoi People’s Committee in 2025 and construction planned to begin in 2025 too. Its estimated cost exceeds $2.5 billion USD. The metro line No. 5 will be 38.43 km long, connecting the suburbs of the city with the centre

According to Agoda, in Jan 2025, Da Nang became the most searched destination for Americans, surpassing Tokyo and Bangkok, with a 1,538% YoY growth. Overall, Vietnam became the top searched destination for American tourists in 2024 on the platform, climbing from fourth place in 2023 and surpassing Japan. There was a 174% increase in US-to-Vietnam accommodation searches in 2024. The Vietnamese Government aims to attract 1.3 million U.S. tourists and make the U.S. a top-three inbound tourism market by 2028

According to Agoda, Ha Giang ranked fourth globally in 2024 for searches related to small-town destinations with a population under 100,000. The loop’s top 3 spots include Ha Giang, Dong Van, and Quan Ba (with Quan Ba seeing a 72% rise in interest YoY). U.S., South Korean, and Taiwanese tourists are the most interested in the loop for 2025, with South Korean interest growing nearly 25% YoY

According to the Director of the Bac Ninh Museum and Tourism Promotion Centre, 2 free tours are available for tourists to explore historical and cultural landmarks in the province, running every Sat and Sun until Jun. In 2024, Bac Ninh welcomed over 2.3 million visitors, +40% YoY, generating around $74.5 million VND in revenue

The Hanoi Department of Tourism requested travel agencies to cease organising tours to train streets in Cua Nam, Hang Bong, and Cua Dong wards, with an aim to ensure tourist safety, maintain a secure railway corridor, and uphold public order. The department urged travel agencies to educate their staff on traffic accident risks near the train street cafes

Outbox Company reported based on a survey of 4,000 tourists, that the Net Promoter Scores (NPS) of South Korean and Taiwanese tourists for Vietnam were 15.3 and -12.8 respectively, while the regional average NPS for Asia was 26. The company is concerned that dissatisfied Taiwanese visitors are unlikely to share positive feedback about Vietnam. According to Outbox, reasons are rooted in gaps in hotel services, and transportation; language barriers as Korean and Taiwanese tourists prefer their native languages; and inefficiencies in airports and local transport systems affecting large group travel. Survey data indicated that Vietnam’s Destination Marketing Index (DME) scores in Taiwan and Korea are among the highest in the region

According to the provincial tourism authority, in Jan and Feb 2025, Tien Giang welcomed 367,668 (+1.2% YoY) visitors, reaching 17.5% of the annual target, including 111,690 international visitors (+1.4% YoY). Revenue from lodging, shopping, and entertainment reached 270 billion VND (+1.7% YoY), achieving 17.9% of the annual plan. In Feb 2025, the tourism pier at the Provincial Tourism Development Centre alone received 30,814 visitors. In 2025, the province aims to welcome 2.1 million tourists, including 700,000 foreign visitors, with the projected revenue at 1.5 trillion VND

The 10th Japan-Vietnam Festival will be held from 8-9 Mar at September 23 Park in District 1 in HCMC. Activities include musical shows, martial arts demonstrations, mikoshi palanquin parade, dragon dances, and calligraphy displays. Around 155 businesses will sell Japanese and Vietnamese snacks, merchandise, and other products at the event. From 1-2 Nov, a reciprocal HCMC Festival in Japan will be held in Tokyo to mark the 10th anniversary of the Japan-Vietnam Festival

At a government meeting on 5 Mar, the Prime Minister tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Public Security, and Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism with reviewing visa policies for "traditionally friendly nations”, and considering visa exemptions for tourists from certain countries, as well as billionaire visitors

In Apr 2025, Asia Premier Cruises (APC) will introduce a cave dining experience at Dragon Pearl Cave, located in Bai Tu Long’s Cam Pha district. The 2.5-hour experience will host up to 800 guests daily, featuring an international buffet, fine dining, and a 45-minute performance by the Suc Song Moi Orchestra, combining traditional Vietnamese and modern orchestral music

During a Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) meeting in Siem Reap provincial city on 5 Mar, the Siem Reap Provincial Deputy Governor announced that the Siem Reap Smart City Project will begin Phase 2 in Aug 2025, following the completion of Phase 1 in May 2025, with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) continuing its involvement in the project. Phase 1 resulted in 8 pilot initiatives, with 6 initiatives being fully implemented and expanded. The Smart City Forum, involving the private sector, aims to position Siem Reap as a model city in the ASEAN Smart Cities Network

According to the General Statistics Office, from Jan-Feb 2025, Vietnam welcomed 3.96 million foreign visitors (+30% YoY), lower than Thailand's 7 million arrivals. Mainland China was Vietnam's top source of visitors (955,000), followed by South Korea (885,000) and Taiwan (218,000). The U.S. ranked fourth (180,000), Japan fifth (147,000), with Cambodia (142,000), Australia (104,817), Malaysia (102,000), India (92,000), and Russia (79,000) also in the top 10

The opening programme of the “National Tourism Year - Hue 2025” event is scheduled for 25 Mar, on the banks of the Perfume River, featuring semi-realistic performances, including water screens, visual mapping, LED floors, pyrotechnics, hot air balloons, paragliding, and sound or light effects. The event celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hue City's liberation. The Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism emphasised the importance of promoting the brand identity of the event, applying technology for the opening programme and event management

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism rolled out the tourism stimulus programme 2025 themed “Vietnam - Travel to Love", offering up to 50% discounts on accommodations, transport, dining, and entertainment nationwide, with reduced fees at iconic sites and scenic spots. The Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute suggested introducing incentive packages for tourists from visa-exempt countries and focusing on sustainable tourism. According to the Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), VNAT will launch a tourism platform allowing firms to access updated information and promotional programmes

In 2024, Hue welcomed 3.9 million tourists, including 1.45 million international visitors. The city expects 4.8-5 million visitors in 2025. According to the city’s authorities, Hue officials and Korean partners held discussions and site visits to explore potential tourism events and cultural exchanges. The city invited Nanta Show organisers from Korea to participate in the National Tourism Year 2025, and discussed tourism development opportunities with the Korea Association of Travel Agents (KATA) and the Korea Railroad Research Institute, including plans for an urban railway integrated with existing infrastructure

Hilton signed agreements for three new Hilton Garden Inn in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The hotels are; Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu Tuaran, Malaysia with 160 rooms Hilton Garden Inn Bali Nusa Dua, Indonesia with 159 rooms Hilton Garden Inn Hoi’An Tra Que Village, Vietnam with 250 rooms

According to Hanoi’s Department of Tourism: - In Jan-Feb 2025, Hanoi welcomed 4.59 million visitors (+7.4% YoY), including 1.05 million foreign tourists (+13% YoY), and 3.54 million domestic tourists (+5.8% YoY) - In Jan-Feb 2025, Hanoi’s tourism revenue reached 18.25 billion VND, +9% YoY - In Feb 2025, Hanoi welcomed 496,450 foreign visitors, (+29.6 YoY), and 1.89 million domestic visitors, (+5.3% YoY), with a total revenue of 9.22 trillion VND, (+14.5% YoY)

A new overland passenger border-crossing channel was opened between China and Vietnam, linking China's Dongzhong Port in Fangchenggang City with Hoang Mo Port in Quang Ninh. It is designed to handle an annual capacity of 500,000 passenger crossings and 30,000 passenger vehicle trips

On 20 Feb, Melia Hotels International and CityLand Group signed a hospitality management agreement for a new 5-star resort in Phu Quoc, named Melia Phu Quoc Forest Bay. The project will be developed in 2 phases. Phase one (opening in 2028) will feature around 128 luxury villas and 130 hotel rooms, while phase two (completed in 2030) will add around 108 villas, bringing the total room count to 773

In the closing ceremony of the Ministry of Tourism conference on 27 Feb, the Minister of Tourism called for attracting renowned film companies - such as Hollywood, Bollywood, and China Film Group -to film in Cambodia, aiming to enhance the country's international reputation. The conference also proposed organising creative, market-oriented promotional campaigns utilising digital technology and AI, as well as innovative local tourism events across various regions to attract tourists

Hanoi is piloting a ban on vehicles with 16 seats and upwards from entering the Old Quarter during the peak hours of 6.30am-8.30am, and 4.30pm-6.30pm. Local tour operators understand the benefits of easing congestion, but have suggested that some of the measures for smaller vehicles might not be practical, calling for special tourist service permits allowing vehicles to stop and pick up passengers into the Old Quarter. Others are concerned about guests having to walk far to the designated 5 pick up points, which may need more tour guides needing to be allocated, and the possibility of guests getting lost. The Hoan Kiem District Tourism Association have stated that businesses are finding it difficult to find alternative solutions

On 28 Feb, the "Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development in Vietnam" project was launched in Hanoi, aiming to support Vietnam's post-pandemic tourism recovery and promote sustainable tourism development. The Swiss Ambassador and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Deputy Director signed a Letter of Exchange confirming non-refundable Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding. According to the Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam, the Swiss Government is providing a $4 million USD grant. From 2024-2027, the project will be piloted in Ha Giang, Quang Nam, and Dong Thap, with potential expansion to Hue, Can Tho, and Hanoi. The project’s 3 main components include the public-private dialogue mechanisms, training programmes, and support for sustainable tourism ideas. The latest also aims to raise awareness among businesses about green tourism standards

Vietnamese luxury travel company, Lux Travel DMC, became the first in its sector to receive the Travelife Certified award in 2025 for excellence in sustainability, which will be presented at ITB Berlin 2025. The award requires compliance with nearly 250 stringent criteria covering environmental protection, fair labour practices, business ethics, and responsible cooperation

According to Agoda’s accommodation searches, from 1–31 Jan 2025, Sa Pa is the most searched Vietnamese small town, followed by Cat Ba

According to the HCMC’s Department of Tourism: - In Jan & Feb 2025, HCMC welcomed over 1 million foreign visitors (+16% YoY), and nearly 5.6 million domestic visitors (+8% YoY) - In Feb 2025, the city welcomed nearly 551,000 international visitors (+13% YoY), and over 2.9 million visitors (+3% YoY) - In Feb 2025, tourism revenue reached nearly 18.9 billion VND, +20% YoY - The total revenue for the first 2 months exceeded 37.4 billion VND (+30% YoY) Major events planned for Mar 2025 include the HCM City Ao Dai Festival 2025 and tourism activities during the 10th Vietnam-Japan Festival

Tien Sa Port in Da Nang city is expected to receive 76 cruise ships in 2025, a rise of 41 ships compared to 2024, with an estimated cruise passenger arrivals of 70,000, +64% YoY. In 2025, the city targets 11.9 million visitors, +10% YoY, including 4.8 million foreign visitors, +17% YoY

The HCMC Tourism Association announced that from 21-24 Mar, it will organise the Third Vietnam Bread Festival at Le Van Tam Park in HCMC. The festival will include 180 booths, and is expected to attract over 150,000 visitors. Key activities include a cultural exchange zone, history exhibition, cooking demonstrations, souvenir stalls, live music, and performance programmes. The Sydney Tourism Association will bring 18 businesses to the event

On 24-25 Feb, the Cambodian Ministry of Tourism and Chinese authorities in Henan organised the closing ceremony of the “2024 Cambodia-China Year of People-to-People Exchange” in Henan province, featuring cultural performances, traditional martial arts, Shaolin Kung Fu demonstrations, and a traditional costume fashion show. A researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia said that the program partly boosted tourism in both nations, and urged the continuation of such events in 2025

From 20-25 Feb, the Royal Embassy of Cambodia to the Republic of Korea, and the Korean Culture Association (KCA) jointly organised the Cambodia-Korea Art Exhibition, featuring art displays, photo and video shoots, and charity donations to support local communities. The Governor of Siem Reap said that the exhibition formed friendship ties with three South Korean regions, including Suwon city of Gyeonggi province, Jeollanam-do province, and Gangwon province

According to the provincial Department of Tourism, Quang Ninh targets 20 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million international arrivals, with tourism revenue expected to reach $2.2 billion USD. The province planned over 170 events, including 24 large-scale programmes and 150 local festivities

Thai and international media reported that Thai and Cambodian police rescued 215 victims from a call-centre scam in Poipet in Cambodia on 23 Feb. Among those rescued were 109 Thais, 50 Pakistanis, 48 Indians, 5 Taiwanese, and 3 Indonesians. Victims were transferred to Thailand via the Ban Klong Luek checkpoint at the Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge. Cambodian authorities are questioning all of the rescued individuals to differentiate genuine victims from scam gang members

The Vietnam CITES Management Authority, in collaboration with WWF Vietnam, launched a campaign targeting international tourists to raise awareness of the illegal purchase and trade of ivory products, focusing on key tourist cities and international airports, including Hanoi, HCMC, Nha Trang, and Da Nang. Vietnam accounted for 34% of detected ivory imports, while much of Vietnam’s carved ivory is trafficked to China and the U.S., with some sold domestically and online. Activities include workshops, community events, and awareness campaigns to educate and promote wildlife protection

On the evening of 23 Feb, a giant puppet parade was held in Siem Reap, featuring 9 giant puppets accompanied by circus performers, and live music. The puppet features figures such as Garuda, Ganesha, a golden mermaid, Asura, Kinnaree, Makara, Hanuman, a lion, and a dragon

On 22 Feb, Cambodia and China jointly hosted a cultural exchange event titled "Hello Beijing" at Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport, featuring a photo exhibition and a Beijing cuisine-tasting session

According to data from Google’s Destination Insights: - From late Nov 2024-Jan 2025, global searches for accommodation in Vietnam were +15-30% YoY - In early Feb 2025, search volumes were +30-45% YoY - The U.S. ranked first among 10 countries with the highest interest in Vietnam tourism in early 2025, followed by Australia and India. Other sources of interest include Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the U.K., Canada, Germany, and Malaysia - In Nov 2024, Vietnam welcomed 69,237 American tourists (+16% YoY), increasing to 73,000 in Dec and 92,000 in Jan 2025 (+25% YoY)

In 2025, Da Nang is set to have more new air routes: - From 23 Jan, Air Premia operated the Da Nang - Incheon route with 4 weekly flights - From 1 Jun, Emirates Airlines will start the Dubai-Bangkok-Da Nang route with 7 weekly flights - Vietnam Airlines will reopen the Bangkok-Da Nang route (30 Mar) and the Osaka-Da Nang route (3 Jul), each initially operating 4 weekly flights, increasing to 7 weekly flights - From 2 Apr, Myanmar Airways International will launch the Yangon-Da Nang route with 2 weekly flights - Crystal Bay and Anex airlines planned to open new flights connecting Eastern Europe countries to Da Nang from 30 Mar - end of Oct 2025 According to Vietjet Air, the Ahmedabad-Da Nang route served nearly 10,000 passengers within 4 months of operation

The Vietnamese Consul General in Mumbai mentioned the potential for new visa policies for visitors from India and other countries to Vietnam

On 19 Feb, Vietnam's National Assembly approved the investment policy for the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong railway project, valued at over $8 billion USD, with 455 out of 459 votes in favour. The railway will span 390.9 km, connecting Lao Cai Province bordering China, to Hanoi and Lach Huyen International Port in Hai Phong. The project will require around 2,632 hectares of land, and an estimated 19,136 people will need to be relocated to facilitate construction

According to statistics, in 2024: - Da Nang welcomed 222,000 Indian tourists, representing 5.3% of its international visitors - Nearly half of the 501,427 Indian tourists to Vietnam in 2024 chose Da Nang as their main destination - Indian arrivals to Da Nang have grown by over 13.5 times compared to 2019

Da Lat was a top destination during the 9-day Tet holidays (25 Jan-2 Feb), attracting most of the 380,000 visitors to Lam Dong Province, surpassing Khanh Hoa Province with 250,000 visitors. Despite higher visitor numbers, Lam Dong earned $29.5 million USD from tourism, only 60% of Khanh Hoa's $51 million USD. According to a lecturer at the HCMC University of Economics and Finance, the average spending per visitor in Da Lat is around $79 USD per day, 50% of the amount that they spend in other destinations. Tour prices are $20 USD less than Nha Trang or Phan Thiet

On 18 Feb, in the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s Extraordinary Sessions: - 2 new NA Vice Chairmen were elected, including Le Minh Hoan (Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development), and Vu Hong Thanh (Chairman of the NA's Economic Committee) - 2 new Deputy Prime Ministers for 2021–2026 term were also elected, including Mai Van Chinh (Head of the Central Mass Mobilisation Commission), and Nguyen Chi Dung (Minister of Planning and Investment) On the same day, 2 new resolutions on the organisational structure of the Government were also released, specifying the new government, comprising 25 members, 14 ministers, and 3 leaders of ministerial-level agencies. On 19 Feb, the National Assembly will vote to approve several resolutions, including: - Investment policy for the Lao Cai–Hanoi–Hai Phong railway project, the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project - Special mechanisms for developing metro networks in Hanoi and HCMC - Charter capital increase for the Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) for 2024–2026

Da Nang’s Department of Tourism and Vietjet Air hosted a tourism promotion programme in Ahmedabad. The event included business networking, a film on Da Nang's tourism offerings, and updates on the Ahmedabad-Da Nang direct flight. 21 Vietnamese companies showcased new tourism products tailored for Indian visitors

6-seat and larger buses dominated Hanoi’s Old Quarter roads during peak hours, causing significant congestion and disrupting traffic flow. Buses often occupy zebra crossings and park without order, with limited enforcement by authorities. Congestion reduced access to local businesses, with fewer visitors to restaurants due to a lack of parking. The Hanoi People's Committee approved a proposal to ban 16-seat buses from the Old Quarter and Hoan Kiem Lake during peak hours, from 6:30-8:30 a.m. and from 4:30–6:30 p.m., starting in Mar

The Taiwanese Interior Ministry listed Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos as high-risk destinations due to incidents involving scam gangs. Travellers to the five countries will now see a warning on their plane tickets, and will be advised to download a travel safety application