Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s tourism sector is intensifying efforts to contribute to the government’s GDP growth target of 8.3–8.5%, with travel enterprises implementing strong action plans to fulfill the objectives set under Resolution No. 226/NQ-CP.
According to industry representatives, the government’s growth goal presents both a major opportunity and a significant challenge, particularly for the tourism industry, a key pillar of the national economy.
Cao Tri Dung, Chairman of Da Nang's Tourism Association and the Vietnam Society of Travel Agents, noted that tourism businesses are actively taking measures to turn the government’s resolution into concrete outcomes.
The Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) has rapidly encouraged its member enterprises and provincial branches to implement an action programme designed to transform the resolution into practical initiatives. The plan aims to help the sector achieve the government’s target of 25 million international visitors and 150 million domestic travellers by 2025 - figures that place heavy pressure on the tourism community.
Under this plan, enterprises are launching a series of market-survey trips from key regions such as North-East Asia, Southeast Asia, Europe, Australia, and the US to Vietnamese destinations with fully developed tourism products. These source markets are seen as highly responsive to policy changes and capable of generating fast visitor growth.
At the same time, a number of large-scale promotional events are scheduled for the remaining months of 2025, including MICE EXPO 2025 in Hanoi from September 25–27, and the Da Nang Tourism Festival Day on October 15–16, which will gather more than 100 foreign companies and 200 domestic travel agencies, along with major online-travel-platform operators. These events aim to introduce new tourism-stimulus products aligned with the government’s incentive policies.
Another highlight will be the Vietnam Travel Day to be co-organised with Quang Ninh province in late October and early November. The event is expected to serve as a platform for exchange between domestic and foreign agencies, development of specialised tourism products, and joint promotional activities.
In addition, the association plans to lead business delegations to major markets such as Malaysia and the Republic of Korea (RoK), while inviting international media, influencers, and travel experts to attend key tourism events in Vietnam.
Through these specific actions, the VTA aims to ensure that the tourism industry contributes effectively to the national growth effort in the final months of 2025.
As one of Vietnam’s leading tourist destinations, Da Nang is setting ambitious goals in line with the national agenda. The city has welcomed nearly 5 million international and 8 million domestic visitors in the first eight months of 2025, equivalent to around 30 % of the country’s total foreign arrivals.
Building on this performance, Da Nang targets 18 million visitors for 2025, including 8 million foreigners. To achieve this, the city is rolling out a “Da Nang Tourism Stimulus Programme 2025” from August 30 to September 30 and December 1–31.
The programme introduces creative products such as “Food Passports,” “Heritage Passports,” and “Event Passports” designed to enrich tourist experiences and extend visitor stays.
Promotional efforts will span both B2B and B2C channels, leveraging online-travel-agency platforms and social-media campaigns to attract visitors from key markets such as the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Taiwan (China).
Despite these strong initiatives, industry experts acknowledge that the 2025 growth target remains highly challenging. For long-haul markets like Europe, Australia, and the United States, tour planning typically begins six to twelve months in advance, making it difficult to generate immediate results.
Therefore, the sector is prioritising nearby markets with high policy sensitivity, such as the RoK, China, Japan, Taiwan (China), the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and India. These are expected to deliver 20–30 % growth in arrivals compared with the same period last year, while distant markets may see around 15 % growth toward year-end.
To meet the Government’s target of 25 million international visitors, Vietnam would need to attract roughly 2.5–2.6 million visitors per month, a pace the industry has rarely achieved before.
Observers attribute recent positive momentum in inbound tourism to the government’s timely and practical policy adjustments. These include expanded visa exemptions, extended stays, and special visa privileges for experts and high-level guests. Such measures have already shown visible results in markets where visa policies were recently relaxed.
According to Dung, the combined effects of government facilitation, proactive promotion by national and local agencies, and the adaptability of private enterprises have created strong synergy for the sector. Vietnamese businesses have developed customised tourism products aligned with each target market’s preferences, while leveraging the country’s cultural and natural assets.
He emphasised that the current policies serve as both a launchpad and a support base for tourism growth in 2025 and beyond. The continued expansion of visa facilitation, alongside the implementation of Resolution 226, is expected to sustain positive momentum through the end of the year and lay the foundation for stronger growth from 2026, particularly in long-haul markets.
Industry experts and enterprises alike remain confident that, with well-coordinated action and effective policy execution, Vietnam’s tourism sector will overcome near-term challenges and maintain its trajectory toward becoming a competitive destination in the region./.
