Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is introducing Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, alongside beach and resort vacations, cultural and heritage tours, golf, MICE, cuisine, and premium travel experiences in the US.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said its Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai is leading a delegation to Washington, New York and Boston to showcase the country’s attractions. The roadshow, running through November 13, seeks to spread Vietnam’s tourism image, deepen collaboration, and expand business-to-business links between travel firms in both nations.
Under the banner “Vietnam: A World of Experiences, Exceptional Value”, the event targets US preferences while promoting Vietnam as a safe, friendly, culturally distinctive, and year-round attractive destination.
The delegation will highlight key sites, including Ha Long Bay, Ninh Binh, Hue, Hoi An, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc, plus beach and resort travel, heritage itineraries, golf, MICE, gastronomy, wellness and high-end packages. It also aims to forge partnerships with US operators, business association, carriers, and media.
Activities include B2B conferences, traditional Vietnamese art performances, networking receptions with prize drawings, and media engagement activities.
The US, with its high-spending and long-staying tourists, remains one of Vietnam’s key markets. During the first nine months of this year, US arrivals in Vietnam totalled roughly 623,000, placing fourth among inbound markets and rising 7.6% annually.
Vietnamese tourism authorities see ample room for expansion, especially following the upgrade of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2023. Many US firms have stepped up investment in this sector, while Vietnam Airlines now operates direct routes between the countries.
Officials anticipate intensified US campaigns will drive higher volumes and elevate Vietnam’s global tourism brand.
In September 2024, the VNAT and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism staged a tourism-and-cinema promotion programme in San Francisco and Los Angeles under the theme “Vietnam – A New Destination for World Cinema”. The event displayed scenic backdrops and production sites to lure major Hollywood studios. Authorities noted that such tie-ups can amplify global exposure and spur inbound travel.
Foreign arrivals in Vietnam neared 17.2 million during January–October, up 21.5% year-on-year, signaling momentum heading into the year-end peak season, reported the VNAT.
During the 10-month period, air arrivals dominated at 14.6 million, or 84.9% of the total, up 21.8%. Land entries rose 21.4% to 2.4 million (13.9%), while sea arrivals climbed 8.5% to 205,100 (1.2%). Asia contributed 13.6 million arrivals, up 21%, with 4.3 million from China (25.2%) and 3.6 million from the Republic of Korea (21%) leading the pack.
Demand from Southeast Asia also showed strong momentum. Arrivals from Cambodia rose 50.3%, the Philippines surged 89.1%, while Malaysia saw a 15.8% hike, Singapore 13%, Indonesia 12.9% and Thailand 10.1%. Beyond the region, arrivals from India rose 45.7% and from Australia went up 13.1%. Notably, Russian arrivals surged 182.2%, the highest growth rate among all markets.
Europe led regional gains with a 34.9% surge to over 2.1 million, fueled by visa easing and aggressive marketing.
The sector has targeted 22–23 million foreign arrivals for 2025, but the Government in August raised the bar to at least 25 million./.
