The year 2014 has been one for the record book, says the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Below is the list of VNAT’s top 10 events:

1. Prime Minister issued Resolution NO.92/NQ-CP on December 8, 2014 on measures to promote Vietnam’s tourism industry in the new period, including developing natural resources, in order to create a breakthrough for tourism industry.

2. Vietnam’s Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh province was inscribed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming the country’s first site to be acknowledged as a mixed natural and cultural property.

3. National Tourism Year 2014 of Central Highlands-Da Lat with the theme of ‘High mountains and thick forests of Central Highlands’ opened on December 27, 2013 and closed on December 27, 2014.

4. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) launched a new marketing strategy to promote inbound tourism until the end of 2015, aimed at encouraging Vietnamese to escape the daily grind of day to day living and become a tourist in their own country.

5. Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM), the leading travel event for the country, was held in Hanoi on April 3-6 with 665 companies from 22 countries and territories showcasing their products in 508 stalls.

6. The Ho Chi Minh City 2014 International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC), September 11-13, themed ‘Five countries, one destination’ attracted businesses from 26 provinces in Vietnam and 18 countries and territories around the globe, with over 250 pavilions.

7. The tourism industry’s active involvement in dealing with tensions in the East Sea, Ebola disease and downturn of the world’s economy.

8. The tourism industry in the central region, stretching from Danang city to BinhThuan province, grew well. Many places there became attractive destinations, attracting more and more foreign visitors to Vietnam.

9. The InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort was named a World’s Leading Luxury Resort at the World Travel Awards (WTA). Vietravel tourist company for the second consecutive year was named Vietnam’s Leading Tour Operator and Vietnam’s Leading Travel Agency by the WTA.

10. In 2014, Vietnam welcomed 7,874,312 foreign arrivals, served 38.5 million domestic arrivals and grossed VND230 trillion in revenue, up 15% over 2013 — the highest figure ever.