Vietnam’s resort real estate market is showing signs of recovery, but experts warn that projects will struggle to generate real returns unless operations are built into their plans from the outset.
The Vietnam Tourism and Resort Real Estate Forum 2026 was held in Da Nang on the afternoon of August 26, bringing together experts, regulators and businesses.
Discussions at the forum focused on the challenges of operating resort properties, creating compelling guest experiences and generating real cash flow.
Nguyen Duc Quynh, vice chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, said investors considering resort real estate tend to focus on the eventual returns and what they will get from their investment.
Nguyen Duc Quynh, vice chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, speaks at the forum.
“But for those of us who operate hotels, we want resort property developers to pay attention to how their properties will actually be operated,” Quynh said.
According to him, many resort property developers currently do not bring professional hotel operators into their projects from the beginning. As a result, the objectives of product development and the requirements for effective operations later on may not be properly aligned.
Quynh suggested that real estate groups should either engage consultants or establish dedicated advisory teams to work with hotel management groups, allowing operational requirements to be scrutinized and ensuring a better balance between project development goals and operating efficiency.
“Investing in an outstanding resort property that offers guests a wide range of experiences will ensure that you have future cash flow to deliver returns to secondary investors,” Quynh said.
Resort properties today, he added, can no longer rely simply on beautiful rooms, comprehensive amenities or large swimming pools. The emerging trend is to create experiences that encourage travelers to stay longer.
“The question is how to create touchpoints and places where visitors want to stop. There need to be spaces where travelers can feel and experience something, so they stay longer,” he said.
Such features, according to Quynh, can help projects operate more effectively, generate stronger revenue and improve their ability to deliver returns to investors.
Resort real estate is an important segment of Vietnam’s tourism industry.
Meanwhile, Vuong Duy Dung, deputy director of the Department of Housing and Real Estate Market Management under the Ministry of Construction, said resort real estate needs to shift away from trend-driven development toward an approach grounded in planning, market demand, service quality and actual operating performance.
Dung said condotels and resort villas have a role to play in Vietnam’s tourism accommodation and service ecosystem. However, projects must comply consistently with the law throughout the entire process, from planning, design and construction to commercial operations.
The Ministry of Construction representative also called for greater transparency over project legal status, land, property ownership, construction progress, operational management, revenue and costs. Revenue- and profit-sharing mechanisms should be based on actual operating results, while unfounded profit guarantees should be minimized.
Dr. Nguyen Van Khoi, chairman of the Vietnam National Real Estate Association, said the tourism and resort property segment currently comprises around 218 projects with 10,800 units. The market is showing signs of recovery after a prolonged period of difficulties.
He said provincial mergers, the rollout of the two-tier local government model and substantial resources being allocated to infrastructure development would create new opportunities for planning, investment and the organization of Vietnam’s real estate market.
Vietnamnet.vn
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