Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s tourism sector continues to make its mark on the global map in 2025 as Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc have been recently honoured at the T+L Luxury Awards Asia Pacific 2025 by US-based Travel + Leisure magazine.
These two destinations earned high praise for their distinct cultural identity, stunning natural landscapes, and increasingly refined services.
Specifically, Ho Chi Minh City ranked seventh among the best cities in Asia Pacific. The ranking was topped by Tokyo, Japan; Bangkok, Thailand; Singapore; Seoul, the Republic of Korea; and Hong Kong, China.
A corner of Phu Quoc island (Photo: VNA)
Meanwhile, Phu Quoc earned the third place in the top 10 islands in the region. Other islands in the list include Bali, Indonesia; Koh Samui, Thailand; Palawan, the Philippines; Phuket, Thailand; and Langkawi, Malaysia.
According to statistics from the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, in the first quarter of 2025, the city welcomed over 1.63 million international visitors, an increase of 18.2% compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, data from th𒊎e Kien Giang provincial Department of Tourism shows that in the first six moඣnths of 2025, Phu Quoc hosted over 4.4 million visitors, including 882,000 foreigners, up 33.3% and 76.7% year-on-year, respectively./.
Gulf News, one of two English-language daily publications in the Persian Gulf region, listed the main reasons for its destination picks as being a mix of iconic cities, cultural treasures, tropical escapes, and foodie havens.
The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognised world natural heritage site Ha Long Bay, welcomed nearly 500,000 tourists on April 30 and May 1, a year-on-year increase of 16%.
In 2024, Vietnam surpassed Singapore to become the third most-visited country in the region, welcoming 17.5 million international arrivals - just behind Malaysia with 25 million and Thailand with 35 million.
Over 50 Vietnamese and Japanese travel firms and tourism authorities gathered at a tourism promotion seminar in Hanoi on July 2 to showcase their products, exchange market insights, and strengthen practical and effective cooperation between the two countries.
Mongolia and Vietnam are the top two foreign destinations for Korean travelers during the 2025 summer holiday season, with flight booking data showing Mongolia accounting for 18.3% and Vietnam 16.8% of total reservations.
Running from July to August, “Find your flavour” aims to become a key offering of this summer by integrating activities such as food passports, interactive games, videos, and all-in-one culinary city tours in partnership with local travel agencies and restaurants.
Each summer, Bac Giang welcomes not just the fruit harvest, but also a wave of visitors eager to explore its landscape and culture. Once a purely agricultural product, lychees are increasingly becoming a signature feature of sustainable tourism in the region.
Localities like Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh, when reorganised, could form a new growth pole, leveraging their combined potential in ecological, historical, and spiritual tourism.
With the country rapidly advancing its plan to merge provincial-level administrative units, set to be completed by mid-August, the tourism industry, along with other sectors, is presented with challenges but also significant opportunities for innovation and sustainable growth in the era of the nation's rise.
Located at an altitude of over 1,500 metres above sea level, Sapa is dubbed the “Switzerland of Vietnam” for its temperate climate, breathtaking scenery, and European-inspired architecture.
A quick search for “Vietnam is calling” on TikTok reveals a myriad of clips capturing the excitement of visitors setting off for Vietnam, with short videos showing tourists holding their passports, wheeling their suitcases through airports or exploring Vietnam’s scenic landscapes, diverse cuisine and unique culture - all set to upbeat, catchy soundtracks.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
Plastic waste in tourism may seem like a minor issue, but on the path toward sustainable development, it is not. The environmental repercussions of this pollution menace not only tarnish the image of destinations and diminish national competitiveness but also result in far-reaching and unpredictable consequences.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
