Vietnam to welcome back foreign tourists via sea, road: ministry
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to welcome back international tourists via sea route and roads in the time ahead, after piloting the “vaccine passport” programme on the air route.
Foreign holidaymakers have shown their positive response to Vietnam tours, as well as their confidence in pandemic prevention and control measures taken by the country. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Culture,Sports and Tourism plans to welcome back international tourists via sea route and roads in the time ahead, after piloting the “vaccine passport” programme onthe air route.
According to the ministry, three out of the fivelocalities included in the programme, namely Kien Giang, Quang Nam and Khanh Hoa, havereopened to foreign visitors.
Meanwhile, Da Nang city and Quang Ninh province arescheduled to begin the resumption next month.
The ministry reported that the first phase ofthe programme was rolled out in line with the COVID-19 prevention and controlmeasures, with the quality of services ensured.
Foreign holidaymakers have shown their positiveresponse to Vietnam tours, as well as their confidence in pandemic preventionand control measures taken by the country.
Ho Chi Minh City and the southern province of BinhDinh are expected to join the second phase that will kick off next month. Other localitiesshould propose the resumption once they satisfy necessary requirements, theministry said.
The ministry has also proposed the Prime Ministerconsider restoring visa exemption for tourists from a number of countries, whostay in Vietnam for less than 15 days.
Vietnamese studying and living abroad with Vietnamesepassports, Vietnamese holding US green cards or permanent residence cards in certaincountries should be allowed to join the pilot programme, it said.
Vietnam’s tourism market will fully open tointernational tourists in the last phase, the starting time of which will bebased on the pandemic situation on the evaluation of the twoprevious phases./.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has proposed the city welcome fully vaccinated foreign tourists from December in a document submitted to the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The operation of flights must be done strictly for right people and in line with Vietnam’s medical requirements for people entering the nation, said Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang while informing the press on the resumption of international flights and the recognition of vaccine passports.
The Ministry of Health has announced procedures for the issuance of Vietnam’s official COVID-19 'vaccine passports’ along with the passport templates effective starting December 20, 2021.
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.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Foreign holidaymakers have shown their positive response to Vietnam tours, as well as their confidence in pandemic prevention and control measures taken by the country. (Photo: VNA) 
