Can Vietnam tourism make a miracle by welcoming 25 million international visitors?

Vietnam tourism is in a sprint to complete the goal of welcoming 25 million international visitors by 2025, according to Resolution 226/NQ-CP of the Government.

With only 4 months left, Vietnam's tourism industry is facing a challenging problem but also opens up an unprecedented opportunity to reach 25 million visitors - the highest target in history.

Sprint to pick up guests

According to the General Statistics Office, after the first 8 months of the year, Vietnam has welcomed nearly 14 million international visitors. Although this number represents a significant growth compared to the same period last year, it has only completed 56% of the yearly plan.

Thus, in the last four months of 2025, the tourism industry must create a breakthrough push to attract more than 11 million additional visitors.

Speaking on September 18 at the Conference on implementing the action program to implement the task of increasing tourism growth by 2025, according to Resolution No. 226/NQ-CP dated August 5, 2025 of the Government , Mr. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, acknowledged: "This goal is very challenging, very big".

Deputy Director Pham Van Thuy frankly pointed out one of the inherent weaknesses: many of Vietnam's tourism products are outdated, 10-15 years old and no longer attractive enough in the context of global competition.

"We have to change our approach, we have to sell what customers need, not what we have," Mr. Thuy emphasized.

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), also emphasized that this is a "very heavy task", requiring "the whole industry to participate in the strongest way".

International visitors check in at Golden Bridge, Da Nang . Photo: Thanh Son

Join forces to create a push

Under time pressure, the entire industry is focusing on finding breakthrough solutions. The Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA) is focusing on two main spearheads.

Firstly, promoting communication on digital platforms. VITA will make the most of social networks and search engines to promote the image of Vietnamese tourism, targeting key markets such as China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the ASEAN region and emerging markets.

The second is to increase direct promotion through organizing fam trips (tourism surveys).

VITA is expected to welcome 300 - 400 leaders of travel agencies from key markets to survey products and work directly with Vietnamese businesses.

The program will start from September 24, with the first famtrip group of 50 representatives from Korea, Philippines, Taiwan (China), and Indonesia coming to Vietnam to survey destinations in Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and attend the MICE EXPO 2025 event. The following groups will survey other areas such as Ninh Binh - Thanh Hoa, Da Nang - Hue, and the Mekong Delta.

In addition, product innovation is considered the golden key. In particular, cuisine - a strength of Vietnam - is being positioned to become a key tourism product.

International tourists explore the highland market when traveling to Vietnam. Photo: An Vi

Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, suggested that localities need to closely cooperate to create unique tours based on typical culinary cultural values.

To optimize efficiency in the sprint phase, the tourism industry will focus on the markets with the fastest growth potential. Near markets in Asia are given top priority, followed by the ASEAN region and more distant markets that enjoy unilateral visa exemption policies such as Russia, Western and Northern European countries.

Deputy Director Pham Van Thuy also emphasized three important support factors:

First, airlines need to increase flight frequency to key markets with competitive pricing policies.

Second, diversify domestic means of transport.

Third, take full advantage of the current liberal visa policy.

The last four months of 2025 will be a real test of the combined strength, determination and innovation of the entire Vietnamese tourism industry on the path to affirming its position on the world tourism map.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/tin-tuc/lieu-du-lich-viet-nam-co-the-lap-ky-tich-don-25-trieu-khach-quoc-te-1576872.html