Vietnam Records Strong Tourism Growth in First Half of 2026, Targets Further Expansion
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Việtnam’s domestic tourism sector maintained strong momentum during the first half of 2026, with an estimated 81 million domestic trips, achieving 54 per cent of the annual target, according to the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).
The tourism authority reported that total tourism revenue reached VNĐ569 trillion, representing 50.5 per cent of the year’s target, reflecting the sector’s continued recovery and expansion.
VNAT General Director Nguyễn Trùng Khánh said that 2026 is a particularly significant year for the tourism industry as it has been assigned a key role in supporting the country’s goal of achieving double-digit economic growth.
He noted that during the first six months of the year, the tourism sector implemented a range of innovative initiatives, with tourism promotion and marketing remaining a top priority.
Among the major promotional activities were participation in and co-organisation of prominent international tourism events, including the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF), TRAVEX 2026 in the Philippines, the Việt Nam International Travel Mart (VITM) 2026, and the HCM City Tourism Festival.
VNAT also strengthened international cooperation by signing memoranda of understanding with Mastercard and VFS Global to enhance the promotion of Việt Nam as a global tourism destination. In addition, the authority launched a nationwide tourism campaign showcasing all 34 centrally governed cities and provinces.
Khánh said coordinated efforts between VNAT, local governments and tourism businesses had led to the introduction of a variety of attractive tourism products, helping boost demand for leisure, shopping and sightseeing during major holiday seasons.
Looking ahead, VNAT plans to accelerate reforms in the second half of 2026 by proposing new policies and implementation mechanisms aimed at developing tourism into one of the country’s leading economic sectors.
The authority will also submit development plans for tourism in the Red River Delta and finalise the Việt Nam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030.
Other priorities include enhancing the competitiveness of tourism enterprises and their integration into global tourism value chains, promoting agricultural, rural and wellness tourism, modernising tourism marketing and communications, aligning tourism statistics with international standards, and improving destination management, service quality and environmental sustainability.
As part of its international promotion strategy, VNAT will organise marketing programmes in key and emerging markets, coordinate activities under the National Tourism Year–Gia Lai 2026, and participate in major international travel exhibitions, including WTM London 2026 and ITE 2026, alongside annual domestic tourism events.
The authority also plans to host the National Tourism Promotion Conference 2027, international tourism meetings under various cooperation frameworks, and the National Green Tourism Forum 2026.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hồ An Phong urged the tourism sector to closely monitor emerging trends such as medical tourism, rail tourism and the expansion of international air connectivity to support more effective policymaking.
He also called on VNAT to further refine tourism growth strategies, conduct in-depth research on priority markets and introduce innovative measures to maximise international cooperation opportunities. He emphasised that stronger collaboration among airlines, local authorities, travel agencies and accommodation providers would be essential to developing more competitive tourism products and effective demand-stimulation programmes.
