Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism: 'Redrawing the tourism map of Vietnam'

In the preliminary report for the first 6 months of 2025, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung affirmed that Vietnamese tourism needs more breakthrough development.

Strengthening 'on-site export' for Vietnam tourism

The report at the 6-month review conference of 2025 of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism outlined an optimistic picture of Vietnam tourism.

Specifically, in the first 6 months of 2025, the total number of international tourists to Vietnam is estimated at 10.6 million, an increase of 20.7% over the same period in 2024; domestic tourists are estimated at 77.5 million. Total revenue from tourism is estimated at 518 trillion VND.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung praised the efforts of the tourism industry, and said that if "on-site export" is promoted, that is, selling products to international visitors, Vietnamese tourism can unlock more potential.

Vietnam tourism has a stepping stone to take off

PHOTO: NT

"I chaired a meeting with the Department of Culture and Sports, so that we can advise all levels and sectors to redraw the map of Vietnam's tourism. A new space is opening up. What tourism products will we have, how will we connect? The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism needs to join forces, focus, and accelerate to do it," affirmed Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung.

"When the supply chain was disrupted due to the volatile world situation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism advised the Government to issue many directives, especially the new awareness of 'on-site export'. This is an aspect we do well. Vietnam Tourism has organized tours and routes to welcome visitors. When international visitors come to Vietnam, they not only explore the beauty and people of the country, but also satisfy their passion for shopping. This is on-site export. Instead of going abroad to buy Vietnamese agricultural products, they buy them right at that tourist destination. Tourism has increased by over 20%, contributing to the country's growth."

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has advised the Prime Minister to issue a Plan to implement the Tourism System Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045; Official Dispatch No. 34/CD-TTg dated April 10, 2025 of the Prime Minister on promoting tourism development, ensuring double-digit economic growth.

At the same time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will develop and implement a tourism development stimulus program in 2025, promote and introduce Vietnamese tourism through cinema at the Cannes Film Festival and sideline activities; coordinate with specialized units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security to propose visa policies (expand the list of short-term visa exemptions, propose a list of priority subjects, and visa policy incentives in the management field).

Need to promote 'digitalization' of tourism and international promotion

Minister Nguyen Van Hung affirmed that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism must find out what problems need to be created and what problems need to be solved step by step.

"The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has submitted to competent authorities to issue new laws, submitted to the Government to issue decrees... to create development. For example, to develop tourism, just exempting electricity bills is also a process to propose. Although the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism does not manage electricity, it must do that. Or regarding the Land Law, what belongs to cultural institutions, sports institutions, tourism institutions needs to be mentioned in the law," Minister Nguyen Van Hung analyzed.

The Vietnam-India cooperative film project 'Love in Vietnam' will contribute to promoting Vietnam tourism.

The leader of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the tourism industry still has shortcomings that need to be overcome. In particular, the highlight is the need for digital solutions for synchronous development and management: "If there is no digitalization, no industry data connected to the national database, how can we manage? Where do we digitize, how do we connect to the national portal? It is not simple, if we still follow the beaten path. We must manage the state, but we must know how to organize events of a worthy scale".

Minister Nguyen Van Hung said that Vietnamese tourism needs to take advantage of many solutions to enhance the image of the country and its people: "The 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day is an opportunity to stimulate tourism, spread the good values of traditional forms, and meet the enjoyment needs of the people. Tourism needs to become the country's economic spearhead."

Minister Nguyen Van Hung also informed that some foreign film crews have researched the markets of Hai Phong and Ninh Binh. Leaders of the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector believe that promoting tourism through cinema is an effective way. When Vietnam appears on beautiful films, international friends will be impressed and come to visit more.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bo-truong-bo-vh-tt-dl-ve-lai-ban-do-du-lich-viet-nam-185250717104408089.htm