How is Vietnam's digital tourism developing with the "support" of technology?

By 2025, with a stable recovery in international tourist numbers, coupled with a surge in domestic tourism and especially thanks to the support of digital technology, tourism will become one of the important drivers contributing to the Vietnamese economy .

We are witnessing a strong transformation in Vietnam's tourism industry as "digital tourism" is not only becoming a trend, but has entered a period with significant growth potential.

The resilience of online platforms

A report from the long-term e-Conomy SEA 2025 research program (by three leading global organizations: Google, Temasek, and Bain & Company) shows that the gross merchandise value (GMV) of Vietnam's online tourism sector will continue to maintain double-digit growth (16%) in 2025, thanks to two driving factors: persistently high airfare prices and strong hotel occupancy rates at top destinations.

Notably, the influx of international tourists has been steadily recovering thanks to flexible visa policies (visa exemption and e-visas), while a series of key promotional activities have helped Vietnam attract back large, high-spending markets from China, South Korea, Japan, and Europe. Meanwhile, domestic tourists tend to prioritize nearby trips and short-term excursions, leading to a surge in demand for online booking services.

Embracing this trend, cashless payment systems have rapidly emerged as a crucial pillar, shaping Vietnam's digital tourism. 30 million e-wallet accounts are the driving force behind the widespread adoption of digital payments across all services, from booking airline tickets to making payments at destinations.

In particular, the promotion of cross-border QR payment connectivity with countries in the region will be a strategic step towards creating a seamless payment experience for tourists, reducing the proportion of cash transactions, and opening up cross-border economic and tourism flows.

Prospects for digital tourism in Vietnam

Today's new generation of travelers demands faster information retrieval, prioritizing convenience and greater personalization. The e-Conomy SEA 2025 report also shows that Vietnamese travelers lead Southeast Asia in their interaction with artificial intelligence, using AI to search for destination suggestions, compare prices, and plan itineraries.

Major online travel platforms worldwide are now leveraging AI to support recommendations for accommodations, itineraries, and services based on analysis of customers' personal preferences. This trend helps increase conversion rates and optimize the user experience, especially for young people, a demographic familiar with digital applications and often prioritizing "all-in-one" conveniences.

Furthermore, tourists' choices of destinations and travel services are easily influenced by interactive promotional videos and livestreams from KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) or travel content creators. The information from these channels is becoming a powerful source of reference influencing viewers' decisions, while also opening up opportunities for the local tourism industry to reach customers by choosing to "tell stories" in a more authentic and inspiring way.

In recent times, businesses in Vietnam's tourism industry have shown a significant transformation by investing in digital infrastructure: applying technology in operations (from booking management to digitizing check-in/check-out processes); integrating digital payments to reduce operating costs and enhance customer experience; promoting digital marketing instead of traditional advertising; participating in online platforms to promptly reach foreign partners, etc.

International tourists visit Hanoi's Old Quarter. (Illustrative photo: Minh Quyet/VNA)

The digital transformation model helps them optimize costs and increase profit margins in a highly competitive environment. In particular, the recovery in the accommodation sector shows stable demand and strengthening travelers' ability to pay.

However, experts believe that the digital tourism sector in Vietnam still faces many obstacles such as: disparities in digital application capabilities among businesses; increasing competition from regional rivals who are also boosting technological infrastructure and tourism incentive policies; cybersecurity risks; and inconsistent digitalization across the service chain…

However, the e-Conomy SEA 2025 report also shows that Vietnam has a great opportunity to become a leading digital tourism destination in the region, thanks to its young population, readiness to adopt technology, and a prioritized national digital transformation strategy. With solutions to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Vietnam can create a smart and sustainable tourism ecosystem, aligning with global trends and profound digital transformation.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/du-lich-so-viet-nam-phat-trien-ra-sao-voi-su-hau-thuan-cua-cong-nghe-post1082219.vnp