Brian Jeffrey
There are promising developments in the tourism industry with the return of Russian vacationers, who have been notably absent for three years. This March, 12 charter flights are set to bring Russian travelers to Nha Trang, a picturesque beach destination located in Khanh Hoa province.
Flight availability is projected to rise to 50-55 per month from April to June, and will reach up to 90-100 flights starting in July. Russia has historically provided a significant influx of tourists to Khanh Hoa, however, the direct flights were halted in 2022 due to the pandemic.
As a result, Russian tourists had to reroute through countries like China or Kazakhstan, which made travel less appealing. The reinstatement of direct flights is revitalizing local shopping, dining, and entertainment sectors in Nha Trang and surrounding locations.
To further boost tourism, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has advocated for the creation of free trade zones (FTZs) in Da Nang and Can Gio district in Ho Chi Minh City.
Additionally, the People’s Committee in Long Thanh district of Dong Nai has suggested establishing an FTZ close to Long Thanh International Airport and Phuoc An port. The expected completion of the North-South expressway will also improve road access for travelers.
This year, cruise tourism has significantly surged, with major operators bringing in tens of thousands of passengers to sought-after spots like Ha Long Bay, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Ho Chi Minh City.
The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment is flourishing, recently emphasized by substantial corporate trips from leading Indian companies. Vietnam is also emerging as a prime venue for extravagant weddings of Indian billionaires, with notable celebrations taking place in Ha Long Bay and Phu Quoc.
In 2024, the tourism sector is estimated to generate around 840 trillion VND (approximately 32.96 billion USD), marking an increase of 85 trillion VND compared to 2019, just before the pandemic struck.
Vietnam’s tourism landscape has made a full recovery, with ambitious ambitions to host 22-23 million international visitors and 120-130 million domestic tourists by 2025, aiming for total revenues to reach between 980 trillion and 1.05 quadrillion VND.
