2019 National Tourism Year ends with flying colours
The 2019 National Tourism Year themed “Colour of the Sea” has ended with flying colours, as seen in the record number of international visitors and various prizes won by the country’s tourism sector.
At the closing ceremony of the 2019 National Tourism Year (Photo: daidoanket.vn)
Khanh Hoa (VNA) –The 2019 National Tourism Year themed “Colour of the Sea” has ended with flying colours, as seen in the recordnumber of international visitors and various prizes won by the country’s tourismsector.
The 2019 National Tourism Yearofficially concluded with a grand ceremony on December 28 in the south centralprovince of Khanh Hoa, which was the host of the year.
Head of the Vietnam NationalAdministration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said at the event that the yearsaw 18 million foreign arrivals, up 16 percent from the previous year, and 85million domestic travellers, up 6.25. The tourism sector earned total revenuesof 720 trillion VND (31 billion USD).
At the 26th World Travel Awards (WTA),Vietnam was honoured as the “World’s Leading Heritage Destination 2019”. The country was chosen as Asia’s LeadingCulinary Destination at the WTA awards for Asia and Oceania last October andalso received the World’s Best Golf Destination 2019 award at the internationalWorld Golf Awards held in the UAE the same month.
As host of the 2019 National Tourism Year, KhanhHoa has held nearly 60 events throughout the year, including the ninth NhaTrang – Khanh Hoa Sea Festival, the 2019 Miss Universe Vietnam finals, and theChallenge Vietnam 2019. Besides, 35 related events were held in other citiesand provinces across the country.
Khanh Hoa’s efforts have paid off with a 27.5percent increase in the number of international arrivals to 3.6 million and a 24percent rise in tourism revenue to more than 27 trillion VND.
At the ceremony, Khanh Hoa handed over thehosting role of the National Tourism Year to the northern province of Ninh Binh,which will chair the 2020 National Tourism Year under the theme of “Hoa Lu –thousand-year-old ancient capital”./.
The National Food Festival 2019 kicked off in Nha Trang beach city in the south central province of Khanh Hoa on October 18, as part of the National Tourism Year.
The central province of Khanh Hoa will hold a ceremony on December 28 to wrap up National Tourism Year 2019 which was themed “Nha Trang – Colour of the Sea”.
The National Tourism Year 2020 will be launched in the northern province of Ninh Binh on February 20, 2020, heard a press conference in Hanoi on December 10.
The central province of Khanh Hoa greeted the 3.5 millionth foreign visitor and the 10 millionth tourist arriving in the locality at the Cam Ranh international airport in 2019 at a ceremony on December 18.
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.
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.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
At the closing ceremony of the 2019 National Tourism Year (Photo: daidoanket.vn) 
