Vietnam Alongside Thailand and More in Strengthening Tourism Safety as Nha Trang Cracks Down on Illegal Travel Activity

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Vietnam is stepping up safety in tourism as Nha Trang cracks down on unlawful travel activity. Vietnam is bolstering tourism safety in Nha Trang as a surge in visitor growth is placing greater pressure on security, tourism businesses and regulations. A broader crackdown is targeting illegal tours, tourism scams, overcharging, unauthorized foreign-linked businesses, immigration violations, illegal employment and questionable payment practices as Khanh Hoa is witnessing a sharp rise in domestic and international tourism.

Nha Trang Tourism Growth Puts Safety at the Centre

Tourism has expanded rapidly across Khanh Hoa during the first nine months of 2026, increasing the need for stronger visitor protection and tighter supervision of tourism-related activities.

More than 20.4 million tourist arrivals were recorded across the province during the period. This represented a major 45.66% year-on-year increase.

International tourism grew even faster. More than 7.1 million international visitors arrived in Khanh Hoa, representing growth of 69.05% compared with the previous year.

Nha Trang remained one of the most important contributors to this growth. By the end of September, more than 2.29 million foreign visitors had arrived in Nha Trang Ward alone.

That figure accounted for more than 32% of Khanh Hoa’s total international arrivals, demonstrating how important the coastal city remains to the province’s tourism economy.

As international demand rises, however, greater attention is being placed on ensuring that rapid tourism expansion does not create opportunities for fraud, illegal businesses or activities that could damage visitor confidence.

Key Nha Trang Tourism Figures and Safety Concerns

Stronger Tourism Security Plans Are Being Introduced

A more structured security approach is being used across Nha Trang as tourism activity increases.

Security plans have been prepared for different periods throughout the year, particularly during peak travel seasons, public holidays, the Lunar New Year holiday and major tourism events.

Responsibilities are being clearly assigned among relevant authorities so that incidents involving visitors can be received, investigated and handled more quickly.

Areas considered vulnerable to tourism-related crime or public-order problems are also being reviewed regularly.

This includes busy roads, tourism establishments, accommodation businesses, entertainment venues and different categories of visitor services.

The aim is to identify problems before they become serious enough to affect travellers or damage the reputation of Nha Trang as an international destination.

Hotels, restaurants, entertainment businesses and other tourism operators are also being encouraged to comply with regulations and strengthen protection of tourists and their belongings.

Cheap Tours and Unfair Competition Come Under Pressure

One of the biggest concerns facing Khanh Hoa’s tourism sector involves unfair competition and extremely cheap tour packages.

Low-priced packages can appear attractive to international travellers. However, concerns have been raised that certain operations may rely on business practices that weaken tourism standards.

Some cheap tours may be connected with questionable payment practices, compulsory shopping arrangements or poor-quality services.

Greater cooperation between different enforcement agencies is therefore being sought so that fraudulent tours and illegal financial practices can be detected.

The issue goes beyond pricing.

When visitors purchase very cheap packages, they can sometimes be directed towards selected shops or businesses where pressure is placed on them to spend money.

This can create a negative visitor experience and undermine the wider reputation of the destination.

Overcharging and Forced Shopping Threaten Visitor Confidence

Authorities are also paying closer attention to overcharging, aggressive solicitation and pressure selling.

Some tourists have reportedly been encouraged or pressured into buying goods at shopping establishments connected with cheap tourism packages.

Service quality can also fall below expected standards.

Such practices are considered particularly damaging in a destination such as Nha Trang, where international tourism has become increasingly important.

Tourism depends heavily on visitor trust.

When travellers feel that prices are unclear or that they have been pressured into purchasing products, the damage can extend beyond a single business.

Negative experiences can influence reviews, recommendations and decisions made by future visitors.

Stronger tourism enforcement is therefore being viewed as an important part of protecting Nha Trang’s long-term competitiveness.

Tour Guides Face Closer Regulatory Scrutiny

Tour guides are another important part of the tourism industry being examined more carefully.

Some guides have reportedly been found violating regulations or behaving improperly towards tourists.

Concerns have also emerged over the use of fake diplomas and certificates when applying for tour-guide cards.

This creates both regulatory and tourism-quality problems.

Tour guides often act as the main connection between international visitors and a destination. They explain local culture, arrange transport, assist with attractions and help travellers navigate unfamiliar areas.

Improperly qualified guides can therefore create risks for visitors as well as damage confidence in local tourism services.

Tighter checks are expected to make it more difficult for people without proper qualifications to operate within the sector.

Fake Hotel Pages Create New Risks for Tourists

Tourism fraud has also moved increasingly into the digital environment.

Scammers have reportedly created fake social-media pages designed to look like the official pages of legitimate accommodation establishments.

Travellers may believe they are communicating with a recognised hotel or accommodation provider when they are actually dealing with criminals.

Money can then be requested for fake reservations or fraudulent accommodation offers.

The risk is particularly significant because tourists can lose money before arriving at the destination.

Digital fraud also makes enforcement more complicated because scams can be operated remotely and spread rapidly through social-media platforms.

Visitors booking accommodation in Nha Trang are therefore increasingly encouraged to use reliable channels and confirm booking information carefully before transferring money.

Foreign-Linked Tourism Businesses Face Greater Scrutiny

A major part of the wider enforcement effort involves the activities of some foreign nationals operating within the tourism economy.

Concerns have been raised about foreigners using Vietnamese legal entities to operate service establishments.

In some situations, workers or tour guides may also be employed without the required authorisation.

These arrangements can create gaps in regulatory supervision because the official business structure may not fully reflect who is actually controlling commercial activities.

Legitimate tourism companies can also be placed at a disadvantage when competitors operate outside established rules.

Authorities and tourism organisations are therefore increasing efforts to identify and address suspected violations.

Disguised investment arrangements have become one of the areas receiving particular attention.

Immigration and Residence Rules Become Central to Tourism Management

Tourism is closely linked with immigration, residence, employment and investment regulations.

As international visitor numbers increase, authorities are placing greater emphasis on ensuring that foreign nationals remain compliant with Vietnamese law.

Cases have been uncovered involving foreigners who allegedly violated immigration or residence requirements.

Some accommodation establishments have also reportedly failed to correctly declare the stays of their guests.

Accurate guest registration is an important part of tourism management because it allows authorities to understand where foreign visitors are staying and improves the ability to respond to security concerns.

Weak reporting systems or delays in identifying violations can create larger problems for tourism authorities and visitors.

Khanh Hoa Police to Expand Tourism-Related Checks

Police are expected to strengthen monitoring across a wide range of areas connected with tourism.

Greater scrutiny will be directed towards foreign residents, immigration, entry and exit activities, tourism businesses and tour guides.

Accommodation establishments will also be examined more closely.

Foreign-related investment and business activities will receive attention alongside payments, employment and activities carried out online.

The objective is to prevent tourism from being used as a cover for activities that fall outside Vietnamese law.

Authorities are particularly concerned about attempts to use tourism networks to facilitate illegal immigration, unauthorised employment, disguised investment or illegal professional activity.

Potential links with transnational crime will also be monitored.

Tourism Growth Must Be Matched by Stronger Protection

The expansion of tourism across Khanh Hoa represents a major opportunity for the region.

With more than 20.4 million visitors arriving during the first nine months of 2026 and international arrivals increasing by more than 69%, the province is experiencing powerful tourism momentum.

Nha Trang sits at the centre of that growth.

Its beaches, coastal attractions, accommodation industry and tourism services continue to attract large numbers of domestic and international travellers, particularly from Russia, South Korea, China and India.

However, faster growth also creates greater responsibility.

Tourist scams, illegal tours, overcharging, unqualified guides and regulatory violations can weaken the benefits created by rising visitor numbers.

What Travellers Should Know

Visitors travelling to Nha Trang and Khanh Hoa should use recognised accommodation providers, licensed tourism businesses and reputable booking platforms.

Extremely cheap tour packages should be examined carefully, especially when unclear shopping requirements or unusual payment arrangements are involved.

Travellers should also verify hotel social-media accounts before making payments because fraudulent pages have been identified as an emerging tourism threat.

For legitimate visitors, the stronger security measures are primarily intended to provide a safer and more reliable travel environment.

For businesses, the message is equally clear. Tourism growth will increasingly be accompanied by expectations for stronger legal compliance.

As Nha Trang attracts millions of foreign travellers, tourism safety, transparent business practices and effective immigration management are becoming essential elements of destination development.

Vietnam is stepping up its efforts to ensure the safety of tourists as the city of Nha Trang begins to crack down on illicit travel activity. The shift comes after a spike in popularity and worries over scams, illegal tours, overcharging, immigration violations and unauthorized tourism industries.

Vietnam’s strategy is part of a bigger requirement across popular destinations: rising numbers of visitors can’t be matched with a lack of security, competition, legality and protection of travelers.