On September 5th afternoon, the 2025 National Tourism Conference, hosted by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, was held with the theme “Unite – Choose Destination – Accelerate.” This event was part of the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo – ITE HCMC 2025.
Mr. Ha Van Sieo, Deputy Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, shared that in the first seven months of 2025, Vietnam welcomed 12.2 million international arrivals, a 22.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
This is the highest number in many years, equivalent to nearly 50% of the target of 25 million arrivals for the whole of 2025.
Mr. Ha Van Sieo, Deputy Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, delivers a speech at the conference
China remained Vietnam’s largest source market with 3.1 million arrivals (accounting for 25.5%), followed by South Korea with 2.5 million (20.7%).
According to Mr. Sieo, Ho Chi Minh City led the country in international arrivals with 4.5 million visitors (a 48% increase). Hue recorded over a 41% growth rate, welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors. Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, An Giang, Ninh Binh, Lam Dong, and Nghe An also contributed to the overall growth.
However, Mr. Sieo emphasized that reaching the target of 25 million international arrivals remains a significant challenge. With only a few months left in the year, the tourism industry needs to make a stronger breakthrough to achieve this goal.
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel Corporation, proposes solutions to achieve the target of 25 million international arrivals
From a business perspective, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of Vietravel Corporation, pointed out that Vietnam’s tourism industry lacks night-time economic products, and the quality of existing services is still relatively low.
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Mr. Ky recommended that the managing agency should promote digital transformation. The traditional method of using paper customer lists is time-consuming and limits management capabilities.
“By implementing an electronic management system, data will be transparent and convenient for trip monitoring, ultimately improving service quality and enhancing the competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism industry to meet our goals,” said Mr. Ky.
According to Saigontourist’s representative, one of the significant challenges currently faced is the lengthy immigration process at airports, which can take up to 1-1.5 hours, leading to complaints from tourists.
Therefore, the enterprise proposed creating a mechanism to streamline the process and provide a priority lane for group tourists and MICE travelers to reduce waiting times.
The Road to Progress: Expanding the HCMC – Trung Luong – My Thuan Highway
The ambitious project to expand over 96 kilometers of the Ho Chi Minh City – Trung Luong – My Thuan expressway to 6-8 lanes, with an investment of more than VND 41,000 billion, is set to commence by the end of this year. This expansion aims to alleviate the chronic congestion at the crucial gateway connecting Ho Chi Minh City to the western provinces, offering a smoother and more efficient travel experience for commuters and boosting economic development in the region.
Unlocking the Potential: Transforming TPHCM’s TOD Areas with a Strategic Ban on Low-Rise, Detached Housing
In the TOD zone of Ho Chi Minh City, there is a restriction on new residential projects with low-rise, single-family home structures. To optimize land use and capture additional land value, the allowable land-use coefficient can be adjusted upwards by up to 1.5 times the specified limit.
Empowering Ho Chi Minh City: Unlocking its Full Potential with Additional Authority and Mechanisms
“Post-merger, Ho Chi Minh City requires additional mechanisms and special policies to catalyze transformative growth. The focus should be on addressing infrastructure challenges, attracting strategic investors, and fostering sustainable development to propel the city towards a prosperous future.”
The Counterfeit Cash Conundrum: Unraveling the USD Scam in Ho Chi Minh City
Taking advantage of messaging applications with anonymous accounts, the accused group in Ho Chi Minh City had repeatedly bought and sold a total of $35,000 in counterfeit US dollars.
“Banks in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Work Through Holidays to Distribute 100,000 VND Gifts to Locals”
The Dong Nai administration has disbursed 3 billion Vietnamese dong in cash, specifically 100,000 VND notes, to commercial bank branches for distribution as gifts to the local populace.
