2017 has broadened a brighter outlook for the tourism sector for the tourism sector when the country welcomed more than 13 million foreign visitors and served 73.2 million domestic tourists, earning US$23 billion. This is considered a great success of the sector as the number of foreign arrivals rose 3 million against last year.

On January 16, 2017, the Politburo issued Resolution No8 on developing tourism into a spearhead economic industry. This landmark in the 57-year development history of the tourism sector lays a foundation for the making of legal framework and policies, removing difficulties and obstacles, and mobilizing social sources to lift Vietnam tourism into a new height.

To further attract foreign tourists, the Government adopted a Resolution on exempting visas for visitors from five Western European countries and a decree on granting e-visas for foreigners entering Vietnam.

Tourism promotion activities have been enhanced through the organisation and participation in domestic and international travel fairs such as VITM Hanoi, Travex in Singapore, ITB in Germany, MITT in Russia, TTM Plus in Thailand, Kofta in the Republic of Korea.

The National Tourism Year 2017- Lao Cai themed “Northwest colours” introduces and promotes tangible and intangible cultural values and special tourism products of Lao Cai Province and the northwest region.

Vietnam tourism has been promoted through diverse activities carried out after the movie “Kong: Skull Island” is screened. Film director Jordan Vogt Robert is named Honorary Tourism Ambassador in the US and UK.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism appoints Lee Chang Kun (Ly Xuong Can in Vietnamese) as Tourism Ambassador of Vietnam for the 2017-2020 tenure. Ly Xuong Can is the 31st generation descendant of King Ly Thai To (974-1028). He was born in the Republic of Korea and naturalized in Vietnam in 2010.

Vietnam has been selected as the best golf destination in the Asia-Pacific region in the 2017 Asia Golf Awards on-line poll conducted by the Asia Golf Magazine.

InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort has been named the World's Leading Luxury Resort” for the Fourth Consecutive Year.

JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay has been awarded ‘the World's Best New Resort’ in the 2017 edition of World Travel Awards.

Vietravel wins the World's Leading Group Tour Operator 2017 at the World Travel Awards 2017.

Vietnam Airlines is named the ‘World’s Leading Cultural Airline’ and ‘World Leading Airline – Premium Economy Class’ at the World Travel Awards 2017.

According to the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Vietnam jumps 8 grades from 75th out of 141 countries in 2015 to 67th out of 136 countries in 2017 Report.

Vietnam ranks first in Asia and sixth among ten countries with the world’s fastest growing tourist destinations for 2017, according to latest statistics of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

In 2018, Vietnam aims to receive 15.5 million foreign visitors and serve 78 million domestic tourists with total earnings of more than VND620 trillion.