Vietnam's tourism industry could achieve its goal of welcoming 12-13 million visitors by the end of this year, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Pham Van Thuy said.

Tourism is not just a service, but an industry and economic sector with particularly important contributions to the economy.

The robust growth of Vietnam's tourism sector has demonstrated strong recovery and development, promoting the country’s image and its people to international friends, while gradually solidifying its position on the world tourism map.

For 15 years, Kerry Newsome developed a passion for VN which led her to work with a local hotel group and tour operator as a tourism consultant.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it will propose the Government revise the target of international tourists to 12.5-13 million from only 8 million this year, a 56% increase from the plan set at the beginning of the year.

The Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) and the Korea Tourism Organisation of the Republic of Korea (KTO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bolstering tourism cooperation in Hanoi on September 28.

With digital transformation accelerated, a kaleidoscope of smart tourism offerings has been developed to provide new experiences for travelers and help recover the tourism industry, which was battered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Agencies are still busy learning about MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism, while travel firms are still trying to find solutions to develop this type of tourism, which is expected to lead the industry in the future.

By the end of 2024, international tourism in Vietnam can recover and reach 80% of the pre-pandemic level in an optimistic scenario, heard a workshop on Vietnam tourism 2023 in Ho Chi Minh City on September 21.

The country has been named as a leading travel destination for international tourists, according to a list compiled by digital travel platform Agoda.

To improve the effectiveness of tourism promotion, many localities concentrate on marketing programmes specific to their area, and in line with key themes.

Representatives of lodging facilities said they will offer big discounts to those using high-end services in the last months of the year that mark the peak travel season.

Foreign tourists, especially the Chinese, highly appreciate and have positive responses to VN’s new visa policy, which is an opportunity for VN’s tourism to increase competitiveness with regional countries.

Vietnam ranked first in Southeast Asia in terms of the growth rate in demand for foreign travel, at 170% in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2019, Google announced on August 30.

Foreign arrivals in Vietnam hit 1.2 million in August and topped 7.8 million in the first eight months of this year, nearing the target set for the whole year, reported the General Statistics Office on August 29.

The number of international visitors looking for accommodation in Việt Nam for long holidays in the last months of the year is forecast to increase significantly thanks to the new visa policy.

As the peak season for international tourism is approaching, after a long time being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Việt Nam has determined it is a time for tourism sector to rebound and thrive.

Indian firms want to promote wedding tourism in Vietnam because of its natural wonders and amazing landscapes.

The new visa policy, taking effect from August 15, is creating a boost to the attraction of international tourists, but it is just the initial step and more long-term measures are required to make a breakthrough in this regard, according to insiders.

The country's picturesque landscapes are increasingly featured in domestic and international film productions, effectively promoting Vietnam and its tourism.