Vietnam Diversifies Tourism Strategy, Enhancing Cultural, Natural, and Experiential Travel

Vietnam is pursuing a diversified tourism strategy, combining cultural, natural, and experiential travel rather than relying on single attractions. This reflects the country's ambition to cater to the diverse needs of international travelers and pursue sustainable tourism development. In the Russian market, Vietnam ranked fourth among the best-selling package tour destinations in July, capturing a significant increase in market share year-on-year. This indicates Vietnam's growing popularity, surpassing Thailand and China, and underscores its recognition as a promising area for bilateral tourism cooperation. Tourism is seen as playing a crucial role not only in promoting economic growth but also in enhancing people-to-people exchanges, mutual understanding, and broader collaboration in trade, investment, education, and culture. The capital city, Hanoi, aims to welcome over 9 million foreign arrivals this year and has already achieved more than half of that target. This is noted as a source of pride for the city's tourism industry and a positive signal reflecting its growing appeal among international travelers. Beyond its traditional strengths in city tours, MICE, shopping, and cuisine, Hanoi now offers a broader range of attractions, including coastal areas, eco-tourism sites, traditional craft villages, industrial tourism, and cultural, historical, and spiritual destinations. Phu Quoc Island, a well-known resort destination, has launched a campaign titled "Every Phu Quoc resident is a tourism ambassador" and established a tourism rapid response team to protect and assist holiday-makers, aiming to improve the tourism image and experience for tourists. Special discounted tickets are also being offered to visitors aged 25 and under, targeting a new demographic. Furthermore, Vietnam is stepping up efforts to transform unique natural assets, such as those in Bach Ma National Park, into sustainable tourism products, aiming to balance them with long-term conservation goals. Travel inspired by music and film is also becoming increasingly influential, with cultural blockbusters potentially providing destinations with extraordinary visibility and publicity that money alone often cannot buy. Under Vietnam's one-party system, such tourism development is driven by the state, with economic growth being a top priority. While economic ties with China are strong, geopolitical tensions, such as those in the South China Sea, also exist. Attracting tourists is seen as contributing to maximizing economic benefits while also enhancing Vietnam's image on the international stage. Source: VietnamPlus English