Speaking at the event, Park Eun Jung, Chief Representative of KTO in Viet Nam, stated that in recent years, the RoK–Viet Nam tourism market has shown rapid and unprecedented growth. As of March 2026, the number of Vietnamese visitors to the RoK reached 167,000, an increase of 30% compared to the same period last year, marking a highly significant achievement for the tourism sector.
In addition, from April 2026, the RoK’s Metropolitan Visa for residents of major cities such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang will be extended to a validity of 10 years, facilitating more convenient and flexible travel for Vietnamese visitors to the ac. This provides a basis for expecting sustainable development in the tourism industry.
According to Park Eun Jung, Korea Travel Mart 2026 serves as a practical bridge to strengthen connections between Vietnamese and Korean tourism enterprises. The event not only opens up opportunities for strategic cooperation but also demonstrates KTO’s commitment to supporting and accompanying the Vietnamese market—one of the key and highly promising markets in Southeast Asia.
Speaking at the programme, Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, Deputy Director General of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, emphasised that 2026 is opening a new phase with many breakthrough opportunities. Viet Nam seeks to work with the RoK to further promote market connectivity, expand air routes, and develop specialised tourism products ranging from leisure tourism, cultural tourism and gastronomy to wellness tourism and MICE tourism.
Korea Travel Mart 2026 featured the participation of more than 20 organisations from the RoK, including local tourism promotion agencies such as Jeju, Busan, Gyeonggi-do and Gyeongsangbuk-do; prestigious land tour operators; travel technology start-ups; destinations; and the Western Gyeonggi Cultural and Tourism Council (established in May 2019)—a strategic alliance aimed at building the western Gyeonggi region into a “unified tourism belt”, comprising the cities of Gimpo, Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Ansan, Siheung, Gwangmyeong and Bucheon. The event also welcomed representatives from 50 leading Vietnamese travel enterprises.
Within the framework of the programme, the Gyeonggi Tourism Organization (GTO) officially announced a system of special support policies for 2026, aimed at strongly attracting international tourists, particularly from the Vietnamese market.
At the same time, GTO directly promoted the diverse and distinctive destination ecosystem of the seven western Gyeonggi cities, including the charm of Geobuk Island (Siheung), Jebu Island (Hwaseong), the green space of Sangdong Lake Park (Bucheon), Gubong Island (Ansan), the vibrant life of Pyeongtaek Port, the romantic atmosphere of Laveniche Street (Gimpo), and the man-made wonder of Gwangmyeong Cave.
At the event, KTO Viet Nam also announced its tourism promotion strategy for 2026, focusing on three main directions: strengthening B2B and B2C activities, expanding the free independent traveller (FIT) market, and developing diverse thematic tourism products.
Also at the event, KTO Viet Nam organised the award ceremony for the “Korea Tourism Product Design 2026” competition, launched from February 22, 2026 to March 20, 2026, with four strategic categories: Unique Korea, Dive in Korea, Re:Discover Korea and Premium Korea.
After nearly one month of implementation, the competition attracted participation from more than 20 leading Vietnamese travel companies, with over 40 diverse tourism products.
In the Unique Korea Tour category, TAS Media Tours won the top prize with an itinerary combining the tranquillity of temple stay experiences at Templestay and Samkwangsa Temple, along with exploration of the ancient beauty of the former capital Gyeongju and the port city of Busan.
The Dive in Korea Tour category recognised Ha Noi Tourism, Tugo Travel, HanoiSkyTours and Saigontourist Travel, with itineraries reflecting the surge of the Hallyu wave and connecting iconic cultural destinations of the RoK.
The Korea Re:Discover category honoured Vietrantour, Vietravel Ho Chi Minh City and Top Travel, with itineraries tailored for travellers seeking to explore local culture.
The Premium Korea Tour category awarded TST Tourist and Hanoitourist for high-end products that elevate the travel experience in the RoK for Vietnamese visitors.
