Vietnam Tourism Eyes Global Growth in 2027 as Major Reforms Tackle Bottlenecks and Unlock Travel Opportunities

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Vietnam is aiming for increased international tourism growth in 2027 with large-scale reforms targeting industry pain points, creating better accessibility and increasing its appeal.

Vietnam is gearing up for increased international tourism in 2027 with major changes aimed at removing any pain points within the industry and making it more competitive. After a strong start to the year in the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam is working hard to meet their year-on-year target to welcome 25 million international visitors. Vietnam is looking to improve their tourism by upgrading their infrastructure, implementing digital changes, making it easier to gain a visa and developing their destinations. With the upcoming APEC 2027 meetings to be held on Phu Quoc, this will give Vietnam a major opportunity to promote their international tourism.

Vietnam Tourism Records Strong Growth in International and Domestic Visitor Arrivals

Vietnam’s tourism industry recorded encouraging growth during the first eight months of 2026, reflecting increasing international interest and sustained domestic travel demand.

According to figures presented at a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Tourism, the country welcomed 15.9 million international visitors between January and August 2026, representing an increase of 14.5% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.

The figure accounted for approximately 63.6% of Vietnam’s annual target of 25 million international arrivals.

Domestic tourism also maintained positive momentum, with 113 million domestic tourist arrivals, an increase of 6.6% year on year. This represented 75.3% of the annual target.

Meanwhile, total tourism revenue reached approximately VND 781 trillion, reflecting annual growth of 10.4% and achieving 69.4% of the full-year plan.

Major destinations, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, An Giang, Lam Dong and Khanh Hoa, continued to contribute to the country’s tourism expansion.

These results demonstrate Vietnam’s growing appeal as an international destination and highlight opportunities for further development.

Vietnam’s Tourism Performance Highlights Ambitious Growth Targets for 2026

The latest tourism figures indicate that Vietnam has maintained a stronger international visitor growth rate than the broader tourism expansion recorded globally and across Southeast Asia.

However, reaching the country’s annual objectives will require continued momentum during the remaining months of 2026.

With 15.9 million international visitors recorded by August, Vietnam requires approximately 9.1 million additional international arrivals between September and December to achieve its annual target.

This represents an average of approximately 2.28 million international arrivals per month during the final four months of 2026.

Tourism authorities are therefore reviewing opportunities to strengthen promotional activities, increase visitor demand and encourage major destinations to pursue higher growth objectives.

Major Tourism Reforms Aim to Remove Long-Standing Industry Bottlenecks

Despite encouraging visitor figures, Vietnam continues to face structural challenges that could affect its future tourism competitiveness.

These include inconsistent implementation of development priorities, limited differentiation between tourism products and uneven progress in digital transformation.

Authorities have identified the final quarter of 2026 as a critical period for addressing these weaknesses.

The immediate priority is to improve institutional coordination, strengthen tourism data management and establish more effective operational systems.

A major proposed change involves shifting from conventional administrative management towards an integrated tourism ecosystem management model.

Under this approach, national authorities, local administrations, tourism enterprises and service providers would operate through a coordinated framework.

The objective is to improve accountability, reduce overlapping responsibilities and ensure that tourism development programmes deliver measurable results.

These reforms are expected to provide a stronger foundation for accelerated tourism expansion in 2027 and 2028.

New Tourism Development Framework to Strengthen Regional Competitiveness

Vietnam is preparing a detailed tourism development framework linked to national economic growth objectives.

Government Resolution No. 263/NQ-CP, dated 7 September 2026, outlines an action programme associated with Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW.

The implementation strategy emphasises clearly defined responsibilities, measurable objectives and stronger coordination between participating organisations.

Tourism development targets will be assessed across the country’s 34 provinces and cities during the 2027–2030 period.

Particular attention will be directed towards the three principal tourism growth centres: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

The framework will also cover 10 major tourism centres, 20 national tourism areas and 15 prominent tourism corporations and business groups.

By assigning specific development responsibilities, the strategy aims to encourage destinations to concentrate on their individual strengths.

This could help Vietnam develop a more diversified tourism industry while improving regional competitiveness and investment opportunities.

Cultural Heritage and Luxury Travel to Create New Tourism Opportunities

Vietnam is prioritising the development of distinctive tourism experiences to attract international travellers and increase visitor expenditure.

Cultural tourism, heritage experiences and high-end resort development are among the principal areas identified for expansion.

The country possesses extensive historical attractions, traditional communities, coastal landscapes and established resort destinations.

However, authorities recognise that these advantages must be supported by stronger tourism products and improved service quality.

Accommodation capacity is also being reviewed to address overcrowding in certain destinations during peak travel periods.

Additional tourism segments under consideration include night-time tourism, medical tourism, green tourism and community-based travel.

These initiatives could create new opportunities for tourism businesses while encouraging travellers to explore destinations beyond established visitor centres.

Sustainable tourism development is also expected to play an increasingly important role in balancing economic growth with environmental protection.

Vietnam Explores Visa Improvements to Attract Longer-Staying International Travellers

International travel accessibility remains a significant priority within Vietnam’s tourism expansion strategy.

The Ministry of Public Security has introduced measures to facilitate international arrivals through electronic visa services and improvements to immigration processing.

Authorities are also examining a broader visa framework tailored to specific international markets and traveller categories.

Particular attention is being directed towards long-stay visitors and higher-spending international tourists.

More flexible entry arrangements, if approved, could make Vietnam increasingly attractive to travellers seeking extended holidays and specialised experiences.

The proposed approach would also allow tourism promotion and entry policies to reflect the characteristics of different international markets.

However, these measures remain under consideration, and any changes to visa eligibility or permitted stays would require formal confirmation.

APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc Expected to Strengthen Vietnam’s Global Tourism Profile

The upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Phu Quoc in 2027 represent an important opportunity to showcase Vietnam’s tourism industry internationally.

Phu Quoc is already recognised as a major resort destination, supported by its tropical coastline, accommodation facilities and international tourism appeal.

Nevertheless, hosting an event of this scale requires extensive preparation.

Transport infrastructure, accommodation capacity, security arrangements, workforce readiness and visitor services must operate efficiently.

Authorities are therefore focusing on improving destination readiness and strengthening cooperation between tourism organisations.

APEC 2027 could also encourage international visitors to explore additional Vietnamese destinations, including Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.

The longer-term objective is to convert international attention surrounding the event into sustained tourism demand and repeat visits.

Distinctive Tourism Products to Support Longer Visits and Higher Spending

Vietnam is encouraging individual destinations to develop more specialised tourism experiences as part of its 2027 growth strategy.

Each locality is expected to work towards introducing at least one distinctive tourism product during 2027.

The initiative aims to strengthen destination identity and encourage travellers to spend more time exploring different regions.

Better-connected itineraries, improved transport services and coordinated destination promotion could help distribute tourism benefits beyond established visitor centres.

Phu Quoc’s preparations for APEC 2027 provide an opportunity to promote these experiences to international audiences.

By connecting major destinations through attractive travel routes, Vietnam could encourage longer stays and greater tourism expenditure.

This approach would also support local businesses and contribute to more balanced regional tourism development.

Digital Transformation and International Promotion Become Key Tourism Priorities

Vietnam is seeking to improve international tourism promotion through more targeted marketing strategies and stronger digital capabilities.

Rather than relying primarily on broad promotional campaigns, tourism organisations are being encouraged to identify priority markets, specific visitor groups and flagship destination experiences.

Cooperation with overseas representative offices and trade promotion organisations is expected to strengthen international outreach.

Digital platforms could also improve destination visibility and help travellers access tourism information more efficiently.

Alongside marketing improvements, stronger tourism data systems would support better planning, performance monitoring and visitor management.

These initiatives form part of the wider effort to establish a coordinated tourism ecosystem capable of supporting sustainable international growth.

Vietnam eyes stronger global tourism growth in 2027 as major reforms tackle long-standing industry bottlenecks, improve visa accessibility, strengthen infrastructure and unlock new travel opportunities to attract more international visitors.

Vietnam Tourism Looks Towards Stronger Global Expansion in 2027

Vietnam’s tourism performance during the first eight months of 2026 demonstrates considerable potential for continued international expansion. However, achieving sustainable growth will require improvements beyond increasing visitor numbers. Addressing institutional bottlenecks, strengthening digital transformation, developing distinctive tourism experiences and improving international accessibility will be essential. The final quarter of 2026 provides an important opportunity to accelerate these reforms and establish clearer development priorities. Meanwhile, APEC 2027 in Phu Quoc could strengthen Vietnam’s international visibility and create additional travel opportunities. Successful implementation of these measures would position the country for stronger tourism competitiveness, higher visitor expenditure and more diversified growth throughout 2027 and beyond.