Vietnam’s domestic tourism market has started to move on after a long time of respite due to the second attack of the coronavirus in late July. 

The nation is forecast to lose from 13.5 to 14 million tourists this year compared with 2019, though the Government has resumed some international flights to help sustain economic activities.

In the first campaign launched months ago, it was difficult to stimulate demand, but now the situation is far worse.

Vietnam should not look forward to receiving foreign travelers soon after it reopens international air routes, but it needs to prepare well to get them back.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the Ministry of Transport to continue to plan the resumption of more international flights, but in a “controlled” manner.

In many cases, parties in the tourism supply chain broke their promises to reduce prices, and as a result, travel firms could not provide tours at reasonable fees and travelers felt they were not respected.

Vietnam’s current account surplus could narrow to 3.7 per cent in 2020 from 4.9 per cent last year due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Fitch Solutions.

In the first eight months of 2020, foreign arrivals into Vietnam reached only 3.8 million, down by 67 per cent compared to the figure of 11.3 million recorded in the same period last year, as the COVID-19 pandemic greatly impacted travel.

The hotel market has been in a state of hibernation since the beginning of the year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around 90%-95% of travel companies in HCM City have suspended operations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Government’s relief and credit packages are now vital to help HCM City travel firms survive the coronavirus crisis, a top official in the city Department of Tourism has said.

Phung Quang Thang, director of Hanoitourist Company, vice chairman of the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents (VISTA), talks to Minh Thu about hard time of Vietnamese tourism.

Supermodel Jessica Minh Anh will promote Vietnamese tourism by presenting the country as a friendly and safe destination through reality shows to be produced from now to next year.

Mekong Delta provinces have not only been hit hard by Covid-19 but also by drought and saline intrusion. 

The UNESCO Programme and External Relations Commission of the 209th Executive Board recently recognised Dak Nong Geopark in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong as a Global Geopark.

Following the prime minister’s directive over the need to set up at least 10,000 more quarantine rooms,

The project to conserve and improve the special national relic site of the Dien Bien Phu Victory until 2030 has recently been approved by the People’s Committee of the northern province of Dien Bien.

Localities and all links in the tourism value chain need to join hands to boost domestic tourism, which is now a priority for the struggling industry’s recovery post-pandemic, tourism experts have said.

Education and training of high-quality human resources in tourism and hospitality is key to improve productivity and the competitive capacity of Vietnam’s tourism sector, tourism experts have said.

After the easing of social distancing measures and the control of COVID-19, Vietnam’s tourism industry is beginning to bounce back.