Travel

Nguyen Chi Tai, Deputy Secretary of the Hue Party Committee, on January 21 delivered a presentation at the ongoing 14th National Party Congress, highlighting the harnessing of heritage strengths to build Hue into a heritage city and a distinctive cultural and tourism centre of international standing.

Before 2016, the number of Indian visitors to Viet Nam stood at only around 100,000 arrivals. By 2019, this figure had risen to nearly 200,000. After the Covid-19 pandemic, thanks to the expansion of direct air routes, the number of Indian tourists to Viet Nam has increased sharply, reaching about 750,000 in 2025, 4.5 times higher than in 2019.

Hue imperial city, Ho Chi Minh City, and Quang Ninh Province were named the Domestic Destination of the Year 2025 in the HOTLIST Travellive Editor’s Pick 2025 at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 19.

The Ly Son special zone (Quang Ngai Province) boasts substantial potential for developing sea-island tourism thanks to its unique natural landscapes, a rich system of cultural and historical relics, and well-known local specialty products.

After the administrative merger, An Giang Province has become a province endowed with rich natural resources, creating strong advantages for tourism development. In the first days of 2026, the sharp increase in visitor numbers to An Giang is an encouraging signal for the tourism sector.

In the early days of 2026, the Moc Chau Plateau in Son La Province dons a pristine and radiant beauty. Early-blooming plum blossoms blanket the sky in white, endless stretches of golden mustard flowers unfurl across the landscape, while orchards of ripe persimmons and oranges, along with rows of crimson strawberries, come into season. All blend harmoniously to create a captivating spring tableau that enchants visitors from near and far.

The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia) has recently published an article noting that a growing number of Australian travellers, as well as visitors from around the world, are choosing Viet Nam as their destination. The fact that Viet Nam officially welcomed its 20-millionth international visitor of the year on December 15, 2025, marked an important milestone in the history of the country’s tourism industry.

In an article exploring ideal destinations across Asia by time of year, Ham Young Hoon, a reporter for The Korea Herald, one of the Republic of Korea’s most respected business and consumer dailies, highlights Phu Quoc as a standout choice for the early months of the year, particularly January, when demand for winter escapes among Korean travellers peaks.

In the digital era, data is considered as a special resource that creates a driving force for socio-economic development. For tourism, an industry with strong connection and experience-based services, a standardised data system is a crucial condition to improve management capacity, competitive efficiency, and service quality.

Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, Deputy Head of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, chaired an online meeting with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on January 15 to prepare for for the 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo 2026 (ITE HCMC 2026).

The People’s Committee of Lam Dong province has issued a plan to implement the master plan on developing the Mui Ne National Tourism Area through 2040, with a vision to 2050, aiming to transform Mui Ne into one of the leading destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Cam Ranh International Port was livelier than usual on January 14 as the international cruise ship Diamond Princess, arriving from Singapore, docked with around 2,600 international tourists from the US, Canada and other countries on board. The event has made Khanh Hoa one of the key stopovers on early 2026 international cruise itineraries.

The Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism has recently announced that Viet Nam has been ranked among the 52 Places to Go in 2026 selected by The New York Times (the US). Viet Nam is placed 34th, recognised as a tourism hub undergoing a strong transformation and attracting visitors with diverse, high-quality experiences.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh on January 13 chaired a meeting of the State Steering Committee for Tourism, calling for new policies to remove institutional barriers hindering tourism development in 2026.

Viet Nam Airlines has become the only Vietnamese representative to be ranked by AirlineRatings among the top 25 safest full-service airlines in the world for 2026, placing 19th globally and rising three positions compared with 2025.

The Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism has announced that Phu Quy (formerly part of Binh Thuan Province, now under Lam Dong Province) has been selected by Khaosod English (Thailand) as one of the Top 10 most pristine and worth-exploring destinations in Southeast Asia for 2026.

Vogue France magazine has recently named Viet Nam as one of Asia’s most attractive destinations for 2026, thanks to its perfect blend of natural landscapes, distinctive culture, and vibrant life.

As the global Halal (Muslim) tourism market continues to expand rapidly, Da Nang is well placed to seize the initiative and engage more deeply in this promising segment.

In 2025, Viet Nam’s tourism sector focused on implementing key tasks and solutions for tourism development and achieved significant accomplishments, emerging as one of the pillars driving the country’s economic growth.

Viet Nam’s tourism sector marked a milestone year in 2025, with international arrivals reaching nearly 21.2 million, up more than 20.4% from 2024 and the highest level on record, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery.