With nearly 4 months left, how can Vietnam tourism 'accelerate' to reach the milestone of 25 million international visitors?

Vietnam's tourism industry is making great efforts to reach the target of 25 million international visitors by 2025. With nearly 4 months left, solutions from recommendations from travel businesses are expected to create great opportunities for key markets.

The National Tourism Conference 2025 took place on September 5 in Ho Chi Minh City with the theme "Joining Forces, Choosing Points, Accelerating" - Photo: Organizing Committee

On September 5, the National Tourism Conference 2025 was organized by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Ho Chi Minh City, with the theme "Joining Forces, Choosing Points, Accelerating". The conference took place within the framework of the 19th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Fair - 2025 (ITE HCMC 2025).

The conference is expected to create momentum for the last months of the year, aiming to build market solutions, products, promote and link travel chains to increase the competitiveness of Vietnam's destinations, and "reach the finish line" of 25 million international visitors by 2025.

Placing a "magnet" in the Northeast Asia - ASEAN market

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism , the situation of international visitors to Vietnam in the first 7 months of 2025, if classified by region and territory, most markets recorded growth, of which the Northeast Asia - ASEAN region reached 8.5 million arrivals, accounting for 69.6% of the total number of international visitors to our country and increased by 19% over the same period last year.

In particular, major markets in the Northeast Asia region all increased: China (45.7%), Japan (18.2%), Taiwan (6%). However, the major market of Korea decreased slightly by 2.5%.

Assessing the potential market, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, acknowledged that Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia with leading sources of visitors such as China, Korea, Taiwan (China) or ASEAN countries account for the largest proportion in the structure of international visitors to Vietnam tourism today.

"Therefore, this area is the focus for Vietnam's tourism industry to accelerate exploitation in the coming time, aiming for the milestone of 25 million international visitors this year," Mr. Khanh emphasized.

Assessing the recovery of international markets, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel Group, said that recovery is not only about increasing quantity but also improving the quality of experience and spending power.

"We need specific actions for each market, product and promotion campaign; increase the connection between travel businesses with airlines, accommodation, and destinations to create a competitive value chain. When doing the right thing, doing it quickly, and doing it together, the Vietnamese tourism industry has enough foundation to make a breakthrough and reach the target of 25 million international visitors by 2025," he said.

Many businesses propose to prioritize MICE tourists

At the conference, Ms. Hoang Kim Bich, representative of Vietravel, said that China's second-tier cities are currently emerging markets with large populations, so it is necessary to quickly promote and open flight routes connecting these locations to Vietnam, with direct flights to coastal tourism centers such as Da Nang and Phu Quoc.

"Group and MICE tourists need a priority mechanism to attract visitors to Vietnam from the Southeast Asian and Northeast Asian markets because they operate regularly throughout the year. In addition, it is necessary to manage and limit zero-dong tours because they involve illegal foreign tour guides; improve the quality of Chinese tour guides; build core culinary products...", Ms. Bich said.

Tourists to Vietnam are increasing rapidly - Photo: QUANG DINH

Meanwhile, a representative of Saigontourist hopes to have a policy solution for the Northeast Asian market group and said: "The entry procedures at the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City entrance are very slow, the entry time is too long, on average 1-1.5 hours. It is necessary to re-organize the entry and exit procedures, giving priority to MICE tourists and tourists on company tours, so that Vietnam can compete with other markets in the region."

Also related to entry procedures, Ms. Hoang Thi Lien - General Director of F5 Travel Company, suggested that entry procedures for Taiwanese (China) tourists should be further simplified. Ms. Lien raised the need for international travel businesses to have a "digital library" of images and videos of tourist destinations, services, MICE; destinations with diverse products, new destinations and experiences, including responsible tourism (ESG)...

To attract Chinese tourists, a representative of Vietnam Global International Travel Joint Stock Company (VGI Travel) proposed taking advantage of land border gates, developing tourism using passports or self-driving car tourism (caravan), in addition to cruise tourism, charter flights, etc.

International search demand for Vietnam tourism increased by 10-25%

In the first 7 months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed 12.23 million international visitors, an increase of 22.5% over the same period in 2024; July alone reached 1.56 million, an increase of 35.7%.

Notably, despite being in the low season of international tourism, the number of visitors to Vietnam in July still increased by 6.8% compared to June. Of which, the number of European visitors increased by 38% thanks to the positive effects of the open visa policy and a series of promotional activities.

Besides, China is still the largest market sending visitors with 3.1 million arrivals (25.5%), followed by South Korea with 2.5 million arrivals (20.7%), Taiwan: 737,000 arrivals, the US: 522,000 arrivals, and Japan: 449,000 arrivals.

Cambodia, India, Australia, Russia and Malaysia also made the top 10.

According to the General Statistics Office, the country currently has more than 4,300 international travel businesses, nearly 280 5-star hotels with more than 92,000 rooms and 340 4-star hotels with more than 46,000 rooms; a force of more than 42,000 tour guides, of which over 24,900 are international tour guides with strengths in English, Chinese, French, Korean, Japanese, Russian, German, etc.

In addition, international search demand for Vietnam tourism increased by 10-25%, ranking 7th globally and leading Southeast Asia, with the most popular destinations being Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Hoi An...

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/con-gan-4-thang-cach-nao-de-du-lich-viet-nam-but-toc-cham-moc-25-trieu-luot-khach-quoc-te-20250905213219634.htm