Vietnam tourism accelerates to welcome 22-23 million international visitors

Tourists cool off by swimming in Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tri Do

This is the direction of Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung at the online conference to deploy key tasks of the tourism industry in the last 6 months of 2025 on the afternoon of July 9.

Speaking at the Conference, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that the Conference took place at a very meaningful time, after the two-level local government apparatus had just come into operation, as well as the rearrangement of centrally-run provinces and cities from 63 to 34 provinces and cities.

The Minister emphasized that the guiding viewpoint of the Government leaders when operating the two-level local government is to avoid disruptions in direction and administration activities and to strive to achieve the goal of welcoming 22-23 million international visitors and over 120-130 million domestic visitors, contributing to the GDP growth target of over 8% in 2025 and double-digit growth in the coming period.

To do this, the Minister said that the entire industry must consult together to "redraw the map of Vietnam tourism" with a new approach, creating connections.

Instead of developing in a narrow space, the tourism industry must create open spaces, create truly unique products, and inspire to attract international visitors.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung chaired the Conference. The Conference was held directly at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and connected online to 34 connecting points of 34 localities across the country. Photo: Pham Huyen

Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said that the tourism industry has been active, proactive, and creative in implementing tasks and solutions and has achieved outstanding results.

With good growth momentum from the beginning of 2025, the number of domestic and international tourists continues to achieve high growth rates, and awareness of the spillover effects of the tourism industry in the economy has changed positively.

The number of international tourists to Vietnam in the first 6 months of 2025 reached nearly 10.7 million, an increase of 20.7% over the same period in 2024; reaching 48.6% of the 2025 Plan (22 - 23 million visitors).

The total number of domestic tourists in the first 6 months of 2025 reached 77.5 million, an increase of 8.5% over the same period in 2024; reaching 64.5% of the 2025 Plan (120 - 130 million).

Total revenue from tourists in the first 6 months of the year is estimated at about 518,000 billion VND; reaching 52.8% compared to the 2025 Plan (980,000 - 1,050 trillion VND).

Despite positive results in the first 6 months of 2025, the tourism industry still faces many challenges such as: fierce competition from countries in the region; tourism products are not really attractive, low added value; promotion lacks highlights, national brand is not prominent.

Uneven service quality, lack of qualified human resources; limited infrastructure; unfavorable legal corridor for new products; lack of financial resources for businesses; high airfares during peak season are some significant difficulties.

Aiming for the target of 22-23 million visitors, the tourism industry must welcome an average of 1.88 to more than 2 million visitors per month in the second half of 2025. This target is completely achievable, especially during the "main season" during the peak international tourist season from October to March of the following year.

In the last 6 months of the year, the tourism industry will focus on effectively implementing tasks according to Resolution 82/NQ-CP, Directive 08/CT-TTg, Official Dispatch 34/CD-TTg and Resolution 25/NQ-CP.

At the same time, continue to advise on cutting and simplifying administrative procedures to save costs, improve management efficiency and promote socio-economic development.

Promotional activities will be strongly organized in domestic and foreign markets such as WTM 2025 (UK), ITE HCM 2025, and programs to introduce Vietnamese tourism in China, Korea, Japan, Russia, etc. In particular, the industry will coordinate to organize events within the framework of National Tourism Year - Hue 2025.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism will develop a project to establish Vietnam Tourism Promotion Offices in key markets and implement a program to promote Vietnamese cuisine to the world in the 2026-2030 period.

Laodong.vn

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/tin-tuc/du-lich-viet-nam-tang-toc-don-22-23-trieu-luot-khach-quoc-te-1537681.html