Opportunities for a breakthrough in Vietnamese tourism.

Vietnam is embarking on an unprecedented major administrative restructuring, with the number of provinces and cities expected to be reduced by nearly half in the near future. This is not only a breakthrough in institutional reform but also opens up a golden opportunity to reshape the national tourism map towards closer integration, sustainable development, and greater competitiveness.

Tourists visit the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel historical site.

Expanding tourism opportunities

According to Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW dated April 12, 2025, of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in the future, the country will have 34 provinces and cities instead of the current 63. The local government apparatus will consist of two levels: the provincial level (provinces and centrally-administered cities) and the commune level (communes, wards, and special zones under the province or city). This has led many to worry that established tourism brands, which have been recognized for many years, may be affected, making it difficult to communicate and promote destinations…

However, according to experts, the merger of administrative units will bring more opportunities for the development of the tourism industry, because when resources are consolidated under one umbrella, it will create practical conditions to more effectively implement the tourism development policies of localities.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Hong Long, Head of the Tourism Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), commented: One of the significant advantages after the merger is the ability to strongly promote regional cooperation. The expansion of space and the synergy of tourism resources will be the foundation for strengthening the links and coordination in promotion, infrastructure development, and building a rich chain of tourism products that complement each other within the same large area.

Sharing the same view, WonderTour General Director Le Cong Nang stated: For a long time, the loose links between some localities and destinations have always been considered a "bottleneck" hindering the development of Vietnamese tourism, affecting the diverse and seamless experiences of tourists. However, after these localities merge, it will help form larger tourism regions, creating a basis for developing attractive inter-regional and inter-provincial tourism products.

For example, while previously visitors to Tuyen Quang province mainly accessed tours exploring revolutionary history, after its merger with Ha Giang province, tourists can now also discover the Dong Van karst plateau and stunning mountain passes, combining cultural and nature tourism experiences on a single journey.

Similarly, the merger of Binh Dinh and Gia Lai provinces promises to open up a unique sea-mountain journey; or the consolidation of Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces also contributes to creating a Northwest tourism strip rich in experiences – where tourists can enjoy the feeling of conquering everything from Fansipan peak to Mu Cang Chai terraced rice fields…

According to Mr. Nang, merging provinces and cities is a strategic step in improving the efficiency of tourism management, helping localities to mobilize resources more effectively to implement larger-scale and more professional promotional activities, targeting specific markets, and enhancing accessibility and attracting tourists. The formation of large tourism regions with strong development potential will also attract the attention of investors, making investment attraction easier, thereby creating leverage for localities to upgrade tourism infrastructure and develop new products and services.

Shaping the national tourism map

Not long ago, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent a document to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-governed cities requesting that the names of recognized and ranked world cultural and natural heritage sites, special national monuments, national monuments, and provincial/city-level monuments be retained to avoid altering the original constituent elements of the monuments as well as their historical, cultural, and scientific value; and at the same time, update the place names associated with the monuments according to the newly reorganized administrative units.

Thus, after the merger of provinces and cities, the names of some administrative units may change, but the names of scenic spots and historical sites associated with the local cultural and historical identity will essentially remain the same and continue to be recognizable. Furthermore, in reality, when choosing a tourist destination, most tourists are not overly concerned about which province it belongs to, but rather focus more on the specific services, products, and experiences they can enjoy.

Therefore, experts suggest that instead of worrying about the disruption of administrative names, it is more important for localities to develop a synchronized and skillful tourism development strategy to highlight the value of the destination along the travel itinerary.

According to experts: As the tourism landscape changes and resources expand, the tourism development policies of each locality must also be adjusted. For example, Phu Yen province, which has long focused on beach tourism, will have to change its development strategy to encompass the outstanding tourism values ​​when it merges with Dak Lak province – a region known for its forest resources and the unique culture of the Central Highlands. From organizational structure to functions and responsibilities, development policies, and methods of organizing and providing tourism service value chains, everything needs to be re-examined to ensure synchronization.

Mr. Long emphasized that tourism is a comprehensive economic sector with interdisciplinary, interregional, and highly socialized characteristics. Therefore, localities after mergers must have solutions to invest in building destination brands in a holistic manner, with a focus on investing in cultural resources to highlight unique identities, create differentiation, and increase the competitiveness of the destination.

Mr. Le Cong Nang emphasized that, based on a review of the resources and capabilities of localities after mergers, it is essential to develop a comprehensive and synchronized tourism plan. This plan needs to clearly identify key tourism areas, products, and inter-regional tourism routes to avoid duplication and ensure connectivity and mutual support between regions. Besides perfecting mechanisms and policies to support tourism development and encourage investment in tourism, especially in community-based tourism, green tourism, and smart tourism projects, localities also need policies to train, cultivate, and improve the quality of human resources to meet the new demands of the industry.

Nhandan.vn

Source: https://nhandan.vn/co-hoi-but-pha-cua-du-lich-viet-nam-post883933.html