Tourism has become one of the major sectors of Vietnam’s economy in recent years, with an expected
of over 6.4 percent by 2024. Despite the disruption of year-on-year inbound tourism growth due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the country’s tourism sector has shown optimistic signs of revival, thanks to the reopening of its border to international tourists in March 2022. As a result, Vietnam welcomed approximately 12.6 million
in 2023. However, it might take some time for inbound tourism to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Vietnam as an emerging tourist destination
Among the fastest-growing tourist destinations worldwide, Vietnam is known for its long coastline, rice terraces, and old French colonial architecture within its bustling, modern cities. As Vietnam shifted its heavy reliance on agriculture toward a
service economy, tourism has been an essential part of economic growth in recent years. In 2022, Vietnam was among the
countries with the highest international tourism expenditure values in the Asia-Pacific region, and recorded impressive increases in
tourism revenue post-COVID-19 pandemic. Visitors from East Asian countries accounted for the largest group of
international tourists in Vietnam, with visitors mainly traveling from South Korea and China. Meanwhile,
domestic tourist arrival numbers have been back on track due to the pent-up demand for travel after the 2-year-lockdown restrictions.
How does the Vietnamese government promote tourism?
In addition to the lifting of many COVID-19 restrictions, the Vietnamese government has put significant efforts into boosting the country’s tourism sector. For instance, the National Assembly of Vietnam has officially approved the Resolutions to implement a 3-month e-visa for all countries and visa duration exemption for 13 specific countries, starting from August 15, 2023. In particular, foreigners from all countries and territories with e-visas are allowed to enter Vietnam via 42 ports and border gates. Besides, the residence duration is now extended to 45 days instead of 15 days, applying for citizens from 13 specific countries, regardless of passport type or entry purpose. Additionally, the government’s strategies focus on accelerating digital transformation activities such as the national tourism app - Vietnam Travel, and the Viet Card, utilizing other related fields such as health care, transportation,
e-commerce, and
digital payments to support state management, tourism businesses, as well as improving tourist travel experience. Furthermore, the government also pays attention to sustainable tourism practices and infrastructure development with the ambition to make Vietnam among the leading travel destinations worldwide.
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