Brand positioning and destination promotion of Hue in Europe

In addition to other potential markets, the tourism sector of the ancient capital is intensifying efforts in promotion, branding, and positioning Hue in European countries. Through a variety of unique programs and activities, Hue’s tourism industry hopes to see strong growth in visitor numbers from this key market in the near future.

Promoting and introducing information about Hue’s destinations and tourism products in Poland. Photo: Department of Tourism

Various unique and outstanding activities

On a day in June, in the historic center of Warsaw, Poland, as part of the Vietnam tourism promotion program organized by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, many visitors showed great interest in the charm of Vietnam’s ancient capital. With a display space rich in Hue’s cultural identity and a range of standout activities, the delegation from Hue City People’s Committee, together with the Vietnam tourism sector, introduced visitors to the city’s famous heritage sites and must-visit destinations. They also showcased video clips highlighting Hue’s distinctive intangible cultural heritage, such as the Royal Court Music, “Hue – The Capital of Ao dai”, and “Hue – The Culinary Capital”.

Many members of the delegation wore traditional ao dai, adding a distinctive touch to the tourism promotion space of this attractive destination. This highlight drew the fascinated attention of many international visitors.

According to the leader of the Department of Tourism, the tourism promotion activities in Poland were part of a series of promotional programs held in three European countries from June 22 to July 2, including Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The program was organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism with the support and coordination of various units and localities, including Hue City People’s Committee. Although these three countries represent markets with different tourism preferences, a common trend among travelers from all three is their strong willingness to spend on international travel, particularly on tourism products that combine cultural experiences with leisure and relaxation.

Hue impression in the art program commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Ba Lan (1950-2025). Photo: Department of Tourism

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, in 2024, there were 51,000 Polish visitors to Vietnam, a 25% increase compared to 2019. In the first five months of 2025 alone, nearly 37,000 Polish tourists visited Vietnam, marking a 44.5% increase over the same period in 2024. This growth has elevated Poland to the 6th position among European tourist markets for Vietnam. As for Germany, this European country has consistently ranked among the top 15 largest source markets for Vietnamese tourism and is one of the top five European markets (only after Russia, the UK, and France). In 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 250,000 German visitors, and in the first five months of 2025, the number reached nearly 140,000. Regarding the Czech Republic, Vietnam received more than 25,800 visitors from this country in 2024, a 39% increase compared to 2019. Many experts predict that this is a promising market for Vietnam’s tourism industry. Regarding Czech, in 2024, Viet Nam received more than 25,800 visitors from this country, marking a 39% growth compared to 2019. Many experts forecast that this is a highly potential market for Vietnam’s tourism industry.

To make a lasting impression on international businesses and tourists, a series of well-researched and professionally designed tourism promotion activities have been organized. These include the exhibition “Colors of Vietnamese Culture”, culinary showcases, and B2B conferences held at major cultural and commercial centers in Prague (Czech Republic) and Munich (Germany).

According to Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism, one of the highlights is the elegant and vivid portrayal of Hue through the image of ao dai set against a backdrop of cultural heritage. Traditional Hue folk melodies, infused with modern musical arrangements, also create a deep cultural impression on international audiences. These unique features once again help position Vietnam’s tourism brand, especially that of Hue, as a sustainable and appealing destination on the travel map for visitors from these promising markets.

Affirming the brand name of Hue tourism

The series of tourism promotion activities in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany marks the second promotional campaign in Europe this year that Hue has participated in. Previously, from May 4 to 13, Hue City also took part in promotional events in Italy, Switzerland, and France, as part of a campaign organized in collaboration between the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Hue City People’s Committee, and related agencies.

Promoting Hue’s culture and cuisine at the tourism promotion program in Italy. Photo: Department of Tourism

Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism, shared that in 2025, Hue has been entrusted with hosting the National Tourism Year under the theme “Hue – Ancient Capital, New Opportunity”. With a wide range of unique and vibrant activities planned, this presents a valuable opportunity to strengthen Hue’s tourism brand and promote the destination to international businesses and travelers.

European countries are key markets for Vietnam in general, and for Hue in particular. Being a home to 8 UNESCO-recognized world heritage sites, abundant tourism resources, hundreds of folk and royal festivals, and a unique culinary culture, Hue has become a favorite destination for travelers from around the world. However, due to the geographical distance and limited access to tourism information, many European tourists may still be unaware of what Hue has to offer. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen tourism promotion efforts and effectively deliver information to potential visitors in European countries. These promotional activities will also help boost future visitor exchanges, especially as tourists from Poland and the Czech Republic are now eligible for conditional visa exemptions to Vietnam under Government Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP, and German tourists enjoy visa exemption under Government Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP. These efforts align with the effective implementation of the 2025 Tourism Stimulus Program.

According to representatives from the tourism sector, through promotional and marketing programs, Hue City People’s Committee and the tourism industry have created opportunities for government agencies and tourism service businesses to access and understand the characteristics and development trends of the market. These programs also serve to introduce Hue’s distinctive tourism products and services to international travel businesses participating in the events, while expanding business cooperation with partners in the European market.

Source: Hue News – news.huengaynay.vn- Jul 05, 2025

Vietnam-Japan Festival helps to strengthen bilateral cooperation

On the evening of July 4, the Da Nang City People’s Committee, in collaboration with relevant agencies, opened the 10th Vietnam-Japan Festival in Da Nang at Bien Dong (East Sea) Park in An Hai ward.

This is one of the city’s important diplomatic events, aimed at deepening the cooperative ties between Da Nang and Japan, and fostering the friendship between Vietnam and Japan.

Vice Chairwoman of the Municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi delivers the opening remarks

Present at the event were Deputy Secretary of the Da Nang City Party Committee and Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki, along with over 200 distinguished guests and representatives of Japanese agencies, organizations and businesses.

In her opening remarks, Vice Chairwoman of the Municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi emphasized that this edition is taking place at a particularly special moment, as present Da Nang city has been officially established by the merger of Da Nang city and Quang Nam province. The city leader laid stress on their strong bridges of cooperation, ranging from investment, trade, tourism to cultural and educational exchange, contributing to raising the city’s profile on the regional and global maps.

Many interesting activities held during the festival

Running until July 6, the festival features a wide range of activities, including an exhibition showcasing achievements in cooperation between Da Nang and Japanese partners, 100 booths introducing cultural characteristics, products, and services from both countries, an exhibition featuring drawings of children from Japanese cities that have cooperative ties with Da Nang, a Vietnam-Japan cultural exchange program, and sports exchanges such as a wrestling festival which features performances by wrestlers from Japan, Vietnam, and other countries, and a Vietnam-Japan friendly football match.

The goal of this festival is to promote cultural exchange and enhance the images of both nations through a diverse array of side events. It also serves as a key highlight in promoting cooperation in investment, trade, education, employment, and tourism through forums, conferences, and networking events connecting organizations, businesses, and partners from both sides.

Source: PANO – en.qdnd.vn – Jul 05, 2025

Lang Son province: Tourism awakens to welcome the sunrise

From July 1, 2025, the conclusion of district-level administrations has produced wide-reaching impacts across all sectors, including tourism management. In this new context, Lang Son’s tourism sector has focused on completing essential tasks to ensure seamless and coordinated tourism management operations.

Tourists view artifacts in display area of Na Duong basin, Na Duong town, Loc Binh district (photo taken May 2025)

Currently, the province has 54 officially recognized tourist sites. The elimination of district-level administrations has had a tangible impact on spatial development and the tourism brand of each area.

Mr. Nguyen Dang An, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DOCST), said: “Administrative restructuring and implementation of a two-tier local government system is a major, strategic initiative by the Party and State aimed at optimizing administration, enhancing effectiveness and efficiency. For tourism, this presents both challenges and opportunities for Lang Son to achieve a breakthrough and develop more sustainably. We have already begun reviewing and proposing adjustments to objectives, tasks, and solutions in the provincial tourism development plan toward 2030, with a focus on defining the newly formed administrative units that contain provincial-level tourist sites. This is crucial as it will reshape management, investment, and product development under an integrated and holistic vision.”

Following directions from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Provincial People’s Committee for review and adjustment of administrative units with respect to tourism, the DOCST has advised and implemented relevant tasks within its jurisdiction.

Since May 2025, the DOCST has tasked the Tourism Management Division to coordinate with district/city culture, science, and information divisions to identify new administrative units with provincial-level tourist sites. To date, the It has issued official guidance on functions, tasks, and authority of the Culture–Social Affairs Division under new commune-level People’s Committees, including in tourism.

Mr. Khong Hong Minh, Vice Chairman of Huu Lien commune, said:“Following guidance from the DOCST, we have studied and taken on some tourism management authorities-for example, assessment of infrastructure in accomodation facilities and homestays has been handed to the commune’s Culture–Social Affairs Division. Notably, regarding the use of the “Dong Lam – Huu Lien Tourism” certification mark, we have proposed to the Department of Science and Technology to request the Intellectual Property Office to extend its recognized scope to match the new administrative boundaries of Huu Lien commune.”

As tourism territories are redefined, local tourism policies must also be updated to develop distinctive brands. Ms. Pham Thi Thuan, Head of the Culture-Social Affairs Division of Dong Kinh ward, emphasized: “We conducted a comprehensive survey and assessment of the tourism resources within our new ward-including policy frameworks, development status, targets, tasks, and solutions-to ensure smooth tourism management. The new Dong Kinh ward comprises the entire natural area and population of Vinh Trai ward, Dong Kinh ward, and Mai Pha commune (formerly in Lang Son city), which excel in cultural and spiritual tourism, as well as Yen Trach commune (formerly in Cao Loc district), which is strong in ecotourism and agro-tourism. Based on these realities, our tourism strategy will align with the “Lang Son Provincial Tourism Development Plan to 2030” while preserving major tourist values.”

Following the review and re-evaluation of tourism resources after the district-level change, businesses and tour operators are already prepared to collaborate with the new communes and wards in promotion efforts and in building new tourism products.

Mr. Ngo Manh Tung, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, stated: “The administrative adjustment is challenging, but also a good opportunity for localities to create new tourism routes, enrich product offerings, and enhance destination value. However, effective tourism development hinges on mechanisms and policies. I believe that the new communes and wards must quickly stabilize their management apparatus and develop specific tourism policies in light of expanded boundaries and resources. They must coordinate with travel businesses to design market-relevant routes and destinations, and implement professional digital-based promotion and communication activities.”

With the proactive efforts of all levels and the consensus of organizations and individuals, we believe Lang Son will fully harness its tourism potential, making tourism a key contributor to the province’s sustainable development in this new period.

Source: Lang Son News – baolangson.vn – Jul 2, 2025

Da Nang – Osaka(Japan) direct flight resumed

Vietnam Airlines-operated flight VN337, departing from Japan’s Osaka, landed at Da Nang International Airport at Thursday noon (Jul 03), marking the resumption of direct flights between the two cities after a period of temporary suspension.

The first passengers on the Osaka – Da Nang direct flight received gifts. Photo: Ngoc Ha

Upon arrival, passengers were welcomed by artistic performances imbued with Vietnamese and Japanese culture. At the same time, the first 3 lucky passengers were given fresh flowers, souvenirs and round-trip air tickets between Viet Nam and Japan from Vietnam Airlines. All remaining passengers received gifts and vouchers for local tourism services from the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Centre.

The flight crew was warmly welcomed at Da Nang International Airport. Photo: Ngoc Ha

Earlier, in the early morning of July 3, flight VN336 with 100 passengers on board had departed from Da Nang and safely landed in Osaka. The inauguration ceremony was held at Kansai International Airport, Japan, by Vietnam Airlines and its partners.

A fashion performance featuring traditional Vietnamese Ao Dai. Photo: Ngoc Ha

The Osaka – Da Nang air route resumed its services on July 3, operating 4 flights/week on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. This brings the total number of weekly flights connecting Da Nang with major cities in Japan to 11.

Mr. Dang Anh Tuan, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, said that the resumption of the direct route between Da Nang and Osaka once again marked Vietnam Airlines’ efforts in expanding its flight network in the North Asia region. This was not only an opportunity for the airline to connect deeply with the world but also demonstrated its strong commitment to bringing the image of Viet Nam closer to international friends.

The number of Japanese tourist arrivals to Da Nang is expected to increase thanks to the operation of flights connecting Da Nang and major cities in Japan. Photo: Ngoc Ha

The route is expected to create great potential for tourism and trade between the two cities, as well as promote economic, cultural cooperation and exchange between the people of the two countries. It will also open up opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to access the Japanese market and vice versa.

According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in recent times, Da Nang has intensified promotional activities in the Japanese market. Included have been programmes to introduce Da Nang tourism in Tokyo and Osaka, participation in the Tourism EXPO Japan, and hosting many travel groups, media agencies and KOLs for firsthand experience in the city.

The close coordination between destination promotion and flight restoration has been showing clear results. In the first 6 months of 2025, Da Nang welcomed more than 108,000 Japanese visitors, accounting for 4.16% of the total number of international arrivals, a slight increase compared to the same period last year, she added. 

Source: DNO – en.baodanang.vn – Jul 03, 2025

Ho Chi Minh City promotes 2025 summer tourism stimulus plan

Ho Chi Minh City has launched its 2025 summer tourism stimulus program, covering an array of cultural and culinary events to establish the city as a vibrant and welcoming destination.

The program “Exploring the culinary quintessence of Saigon – Ho Chi Minh City” lasts from July to late August 2025. Photo: Organizing Committee

The program serves as both an artistic showcase and a creative learning space, inspiring cultural engagement, especially among the youth.

In the first five months of 2025, Ho Chi Minh City attracted 3.1 million foreign visitors, up 40.2% on year, while it welcomed over 15.08 million domestic tourists, marking a year-on-year increase of 7.7%. Total tourism revenue rose 26.7% year-on-year to US$3.73 billion, up 28.9%.

The digital travel platform Agoda recently ranked Ho Chi Minh City as the top destination for short getaways in Vietnam.

Nicknamed the “city that never sleeps,” Ho Chi Minh City offers a vibrant mix of street food and nightlife, catering to the growing preference among Vietnamese travelers for brief, energy-replenishing trips.

Source: Hanoi Times – hanoitimes.vn – Jul 03, 2025

Quang Ninh to launch weekly fireworks shows every Friday and Saturday

The Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee has approved a proposal by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, allowing Ha Long Sun Co., Ltd. to organize high-altitude fireworks displays at three designated locations across the province on every Friday and Saturday from July 4, 2025 to January 1, 2026.

Sun Carnival Square – the venue for Quang Ninh’s weekly fireworks displays.

According to the plan, the fireworks shows will be held every Friday and Saturday night, starting from July 4, 2025, through January 1, 2026.

Each show will run from 9:30 PM to 9:45 PM and will feature 2,100 low-level and 1,000 high-altitude fireworks.

Main display sites include the Ha Long International Cruise Port and Sun Carnival Square (Bai Chay ward). On special holidays and national events, additional shows will be held at October 30 Square (Ha Long ward).

Visitors can enjoy the unique fireworks show while dining aboard cruise ships on Ha Long Bay

These weekly fireworks displays are expected to become a vibrant new highlight, adding excitement to Quang Ninh’s nighttime tourism offerings during the summer peak and into the year-end festive season.

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy the spectacular fireworks while dining aboard cruises on Ha Long Bay or watching from scenic viewpoints along the bay, creating unforgettable moments in one of Vietnam’s most iconic destinations.

The initiative is also a meaningful celebration of a historic milestone: Quang Ninh’s official launch of its new two-tier local government model on July 1, 2025. It further looks ahead to the grand commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2, 1945 – September 2, 2025).

Source: Quang Ninh Online – english.baoquangninh.vn – Jul 3, 2025

Philippine Airlines opens direct flight from Manila to Da Nang

On July 1, Philippine Airlines-operated flight PR585 landed at Da Nang International Airport, carrying 193 passengers on its first trip to the city. This marked the official launch of Philippine Airlines’ new direct air route connecting Manila and Da Nang.

Tourists arrived in Da Nang on a Philippine Airlines flight at noon on July 1. Photo: Ngoc Ha

Accordingly, the new air route operates with a frequency of 3 flights per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, with plan to increase to 4 flights per week starting from November 2025.

Flights are operated by Airbus A321 aircraft with a total of 199 seats, including 12 business class seats.

At the International Arrivals Terminal of Da Nang International Airport, air passengers were warmly welcomed with many celebratory activities such as a water cannon salute to welcome the aircraft, traditional art performances, a ribbon cutting ceremony, the presentation of flowers and souvenirs, and taking souvenir photos.

Relevant units organized a gift giving ceremony to welcome first air passengers. Photo: Ngoc Ha

Meanwhile, at the International Departures Terminal of Da Nang International Airport, Philippine Airlines coordinated with Vietnam Airport Ground Services JSC to organize a welcome and gift giving ceremony for the first passenger on flight PR586 departing from Da Nang to Manila at 1:35 pm on the same day.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that Philippine Airlines’ launching of the new air route coincided with the very first day Da Nang officially began operating under its newly expanded geographical space and tourism product and service ecosystem.

“We are determined to continue diversifying our tourism market, including markets near Southeast Asia, through promotional and advertising programmes, with a focus on attracting airlines to open more new routes to the city. The operation of the new air route by Philippine Airlines has brought the total number of weekly flights between Manila and Da Nang to 12, contributing to enhancing passengers’ exchange between the two cities” said Mrs. Hoai An.

Mr. Richard Nuttall, President of Philippine Airlines, noted passengers in Central Viet Nam will have the opportunity to experience the warm hospitality of the Philippines as well as enjoy convenient connections to other cities and resort islands in the Philippines, the United States, Canada, Australia and Japan.

According to the Da Nang Statistics Office, the city welcomed more than 65,000 visitors from the Philippines in 2024. In the first 5 months of 2025 alone, this number reached more than 49,000, 2.26 times higher than the same period last year.

Source: DNO – en.baodanang.vn – Jul 02, 2025

UNESCO launches two strategic projects on culture and education in Viet Nam

As part of the ongoing Da Nang Asian Film Festival 2025 (DANAFF III), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and SOVICO Group signed two strategic cooperation agreements to launch two key projects on culture and education for the 2025 – 2030 period.


Two projects on education and culture jointly launched by UNESCO and SOVICO are poised to transform Viet Nam

Accordingly, the first project “Promoting the Dynamic Development of Cultural and Creative Industries in Viet Nam” will support over 10,000 young people, artists and creative entrepreneurs through training, mentoring and start-up support programmes.

The project will also modernize cultural spaces such as museums, theaters, and art centers, while promoting policy dialogues to create a favourable environment for the development of cultural and creative industries in Viet Nam.

In partnership with the Viet Nam Cinema Promotion Association, the project will enhance the capacity of young filmmakers, foster international connections and increase the creative and cultural industries’ contribution to the national GDP from the current 3.5% to 7% in line with the national strategy.

The second project called “Building Happy Schools for Educational Reform and Sustainable Development in Viet Nam” will concentrate on developing a national policy framework for a positive, comprehensive, student-centered school environment, based on the UNESCO Global Happy School model. The pilot phase will be implemented in at least 20 schools across all three regions of the country.

These two projects are part of the 10-year Strategic Partnership between UNESCO and SOVICO signed in Paris in 2024. The signing marks an important step forward in building a creative, equitable and inclusive ecosystem in Viet Nam where young people, women and those working in the fields of culture and education are equipped with the skills to create positive change.

Source: DNO – en.baodanang.vn – Jul 02, 2025

Hanoi launches exciting new tourism offers for late 2025

The Hanoi Department of Tourism announced special programs, products and festivals to be implemented from now until the end of the year.

Launched at the Conference on Deploying the Hanoi Tourism Stimulus Plan held on June 26, these programs aim to welcome a large number of visitors for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam National Day, which fall on August 19 and September 2, respectively.

Hanoi tourism is ready to accelerate

According to Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, these new programs will improve tourism quality and expand visitors’ experiences. One notable program is the group of 20-night tourism products, including the Bell of Tran Vu Night Tour at Quan Thanh Temple, where the spiritual space is recreated under sparkling lights. This tour promises to be an attractive cultural check-in spot for international and domestic visitors alike.

In August, two unique offerings will be launched, including the Nam Thang Long Heritage Road and the Scholasticism Road to lead visitors through a series of relics and ancient villages associated with the cultural and educational history of Thang Long-Hanoi. These offerings combine heritage depth with modern experiences, representing a new direction for Hanoi.

The creative space with Hanoi’s unique identity is also a focus, with products such as Truc Bach Subsidy Street evoking nostalgia for the difficult but emotionally resonant times of the 80s, and Leng Keng Di San, which recreates the No. 6 tram car. Visitors can also experience the traditional medicine village of the Dao ethnic people in Mien Village, located on the outskirts of Hanoi’s Ba Vi district.

The No. 6 tram car in Truc Bach Street. Photo: Leng Keng Di San

The city also promotes regional connectivity through river tourism routes connecting Hanoi with neighboring provinces of Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, among others. Meanwhile, railway routes such as Hoa Phuong Do or Red Flamboyant that connect Hanoi and Haiphong, or the train of Nam Cua O or Five City’s Gates will open up new culinary and cultural journeys right in the heart of Hanoi.

In aviation, Hanoi recently signed an agreement with Vietnam Airlines for the period 2025–2030 to promote communications and expand the international flight network.

“Hanoi’s tourism space is expanding to suburban districts such as Ba Vi, My Duc, and Soc Son with eco-tourism, agricultural, and community tourism products. This strategy aims to extend tourists’ stays and foster sustainable consumption values,” said Hieu.

In the second half of the year, the capital will organize major tourism events, including the Hanoi Tourism Festival, Hanoi Culinary Festival, Hanoi Autumn Festival, and Ao Dai Tourism Festival to promote destinations and provide tourists with real-life experiences.

A corner of Hanoi in the autumn days. Photo: Chuyen cua Ha Noi Group

To promote Vietnamese tourism internationally, Hanoi will organize a program in France, Italy, and Switzerland and participate in major tourism fairs, such as ITB Asia 2025 in Singapore, IMEX Frankfurt 2025 in Germany, and Tourism Expo Japan 2025 in Japan. The city will also welcome international FAMTRIP delegations to learn about tourism product development.

Hanoi tourism grows strongly

According to Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the sector recorded positive results during the first half of 2025.

During this period, Hanoi welcomed 15.56 million visitors, up 11.8% year-on-year, including 3.66 million international visitors, an increase of 22%. Total tourism revenue is estimated at VND62.4 trillion (US$2.49 billion), up 15%.

In June 2025, international visitors to Hanoi reached nearly 500,000, an impressive increase of 21.4% over the same period last year.

Accommodation searches on online platforms increased dramatically by 44 times, with the highest concentration in Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts. Many major events celebrating Vietnam National Day will take place in these districts in August and September of this year.

Foreign travelers to Hanoi. Photo: Dong Duc

“Hanoi tourism aims to welcome 31 million visitors in 2025, including 7.5 million international visitors and total tourism revenue of VND130 trillion ($5.2 billion),” Giang stated.

To achieve this goal, Hanoi is upgrading special national relics, such as the Huong (Perfume) Pagoda, expanding festival spaces and organizing conferences and digital transformation seminars.

Meanwhile, major travel companies like Vietravel, Vietfoot Travel, and Saigontourist are rolling out new experiences that spotlight Vietnam’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and historical depth. Night tours of iconic sites such as Hoa Lo Prison, the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and the Temple of Literature are proving especially popular, drawing in crowds of young travelers and international visitors eager to explore Hanoi after dark.

According to Director of the Vietfoot Travel Company Pham Duy Nghia, autumn and winter are considered the “harvesting season” of Hanoi tourism as the city welcomes thousands of international visitors during this time. To better serve the influx of foreign travelers, Hanoi needs to develop new products and advertising campaigns.

The specialties of Hanoi: Egg coffee and Young sticky rice. Photo: Chuyen cua Ha Noi Group

Deputy Director of the Hanoi-based Vietravel Tourism Company, Pham Van Bay, said that international tourists are increasingly looking for experiences associated with nature and environmental protection.

“To meet these needs, our company is collaborating with the Hanoi Department of Tourism to develop a community tourism model that offers practical experiences in craft villages and destinations that showcase the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities,” he said.

To attract international visitors to Hanoi, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association Cao Thi Ngoc Lan said Hanoi needs to strengthen regional linkages to create attractive tours and routes.

In addition, “Hanoi needs to continue diversifying its communication methods on digital platforms, websites, and social networking platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok to generate widespread interest. It also needs to take the lead in MICE and culinary tourism.”

With a variety of new tourism products, cultural experiences, and significant events, Hanoi is poised to captivate visitors by late 2025. As the city enters its most beautiful season, fall and winter are the perfect time to experience the charm, heritage, and energy of Vietnam’s capital.

Source: Hanoi Times – hanoitimes.vn – Jun 27, 2025

Vietnam, China to compete in DIFF 2025’s grand finale

The organizing board of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2025 officially announced the two most excellent teams advancing to the final competition on July 12.

The organizers of the DIFF 2025 announcing the two best teams advancing to the final competition on July 12

With top scores from the judging panel, Z121 Vina Pyrotech under Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense and Jiangxi Yanfeng from China will compete in the final round of the event.

The two performances are regarded as standout displays, harmoniously combining advanced techniques with their unique cultural identities, while expressing the spirit of the general theme of DIFF 2025: “Da Nang – A new era.”

The DIFF 2025 is the largest edition ever held, featuring ten teams from Vietnam, Finland, the U.K., Portugal, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Italy, Canada, and China. Each team has showcased their nation’s identity through fireworks, music and storytelling, making the jury’s final selection especially challenging.

The performance of Z121 Vina Pyrotech at the DIFF 2025

According to results of the draw held on June 29, the Chinese team will perform first, followed by Z121 Vina Pyrotech. Each team will receive nearly 7,000 fireworks shells from the organizers and then choreograph their displays under the theme “Welcoming a new era.”

The DIFF 2025 awards include a 20,000 USD grand prize, a 10,000 USD second prize, and a 5,000 USD Audience Choice Award. This year, two new 5,000 USD prizes, Most Creative Team and Most Promising Team, will also be presented, reflecting the high quality of this year’s competition.

The performance of Jiangxi YanGeng

The final competition will be broadcast live on VTV1 – Vietnam Television at 8:00p.m. on July 12.

Source: PANO – en.qdnd.vn- Jun 30, 2025

China – ASEAN Cultural Exchange Program officially kicks off

On June 29, a cultural exchange activity between Hue City and the cultural tourism delegation of Nanning (Nam Ninh) City (China) took place at Duyen Thi Duong Theater. This event marked the beginning of China – ASEAN cultural exchange program 2025 in Vietnam.

An art performance of Nanning City (China)

Attending the event were Mr. Ha Vy, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam; Ms. Dong Bich Du, Consul General of China in Da Nang City; Mr. Truong Duc Son, Director of Chinese Cultural Center in Hanoi; Ms. Wang Xuan Mai, Deputy Director of Nanning Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, and Mr. Phuong Ninh, Director of Nam Ninh Institute of Ethnic Art and Culture Research.

In the delegation of Hue City, attending the event were Mr. Nguyen Thai Binh, Standing member of the City Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee; Ms. Nguyen Thi Ai Van, Chairwoman of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the City; along with leaders of relevant departments and agencies.

In the space of the Duyet Thi Duong Theatre, guests enjoyed an artistic exchange between Hue City and Nanning City, featuring impressive and unique performances of Nha Nhac, the Vietnamese Court Music of the Nguyen Dynasty. Furthermore, they also got the chance to enjoy the characteristic traditional art performances of Nanning, Quang Tay Province (China).

This is a series of activities that Nanning City brings to local theaters and universities across Vietnam to organize stage exhibitions, artistic exchange performances, intangible cultural heritage exhibitions and promote cultural and tourism cooperation between China and Vietnam. This event also marks the opening of China – ASEAN Cultural Exchange Program 2025 in Vietnam.

China – ASEAN Cultural Exchange Program 2025 in Vietnam is a meaningful event held to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Vietnam this year. It also serves as a contribution to the National Tourism Year 2025, which is being hosted by Hue City. The program aims to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen cultural and tourism ties between officials and citizens of Hue City and Nanning City. It also contributes significantly to promoting the traditional friendship between China and Vietnam.

The leaders of Hue City expressed their belief that this visit and working trip of Nanning City delegation would further deepen the friendship, understanding, and cooperation between the two localities and between the two nations in the fields of culture and arts. They hoped that the friendship between the peoples of China and Vietnam would remain ever-green and enduring, and the comprehensive cooperative relationship between Hue City and Nanning City would soon be established and developed.

Source: Hue News – news.huengaynay.vn- Jun 30, 2025

Khanh Hoa welcomes diverse international tourists

Khanh Hoa tourism is in its vibrant days. In addition to domestic tourists, international tourists to Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa continue to increase with tourists coming from many countries in the world…

On the central streets of Nha Trang City such as: Tran Phu, Hung Vuong, Nguyen Thien Thuat, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai… are always bustling with tourists, especially international tourists from Korea, China, Russia and Kazakhstan… Korean tourists often like to stroll around, explore the small corners of the city, stop at pretty little cafes to sip a cup of coconut milk or iced milk coffee with a strong Vietnamese flavor. Meanwhile, Russian and Kazakh tourists spend most of their time sunbathing on the beach, swimming in the clear blue water or lying on a deck chair sipping a cool coconut.

Russian tourists fly from Vladivostok, Russia to Khanh Hoa

According to Cung Quynh Anh – Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the first 5 months of 2025, Khanh Hoa welcomed more than 2.23 million international visitors, an increase of nearly 11.4% over the same period last year. Notably, with the reopening of direct flights from Russia to Cam Ranh, the Russian and Kazakh tourist markets have grown remarkably. In addition, the Korean tourist market has maintained stable growth. According to the report, in 5 months, Khanh Hoa welcomed more than 1 million Korean visitors, an increase of 4.1% over the same period; 121,000 Russian visitors, up 192% over the same period; Kazakhstan visitors reached more than 52,650, up 30%; the number of Chinese visitors was nearly 298,000. In addition many tourists come from Western Europe, North America, Australia, Southeast Asia…

The high number of international visitors has brought Khanh Hoa a summer tourist season. At VinWonders Nha Trang, Nha Trang Tourist Wharf, Long Phu Tourist Wharf, etc. besides Vietnamese visitors, there are many international visitors booking tours. Famous tourist attractions such as Po Nagar Tower, Long Son Pagoda, Nha Trang Cathedral, Oceanographic Museum etc. always receive tourists. At night, the city lights up with night markets, walking streets, seafood restaurants bustling with music and attractive aromas. “The bustling atmosphere from morning to night, from the beach to the city center, is a clear demonstration of the growing appeal of the coastal city in the eyes of domestic and international tourists,” said Pham Minh Nhut, Chairman of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa Tourism Association.

The good growth of Khanh Hoa’s international tourist market is in the context of Vietnam’s increasingly high tourism position in the world. According to information from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Google’s market trend tracking tool shows that Vietnam is the only destination in Southeast Asia in the top 10 most searched destinations by tourists since the beginning of the year. In Agoda’s report on summer travel trends from Europe to Asia based on accommodation search data in July and August 2025, Vietnam is listed in the top 5 Asian destinations searched by European tourists in the summer of 2025. One of the destinations that international tourists often search for and choose is Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa.

Korean tourists strolling on the streets of Nha Trang

Nguyen Duc Tan – General Director of Anex Vietnam Trading and Tourism Company Limited said that Khanh Hoa becomes a favorite destination for international tourists thanks to its diverse and attractive products; tourism infrastructure is increasingly invested in and developed synchronously, the expansion of direct flights connecting with major cities in the world … has created favorable conditions for tourists to access Khanh Hoa. In particular, the increasingly open visa and immigration policies are a bright spot in the eyes of international friends. This can be clearly seen through the growth of the Russian tourist market in recent times.

Khanh Hoa tourism is attracting international tourists, but for sustainable development, it also needs to be improved. Compared to many famous destinations in Thailand, Singapore… Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa still lacks night entertainment services, shopping, art shows… to keep visitors staying longer. In addition, the traffic infrastructure is not synchronous, often overloaded during peak season; tourism personnel (tour guides, hotel staff, restaurants …) are limited, especially foreign language skills. Some destinations still have the situation of overcharging and soliciting customers to buy goods. According to Pham Ha – CEO of Lux Group, for tourism to make a breakthrough, Khanh Hoa tourism needs a comprehensive strategy from enhancing experiences, developing products, promoting, improving infrastructure, protecting the environment.

According to the report of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the first 5 months of 2025, Khanh Hoa welcomed more than 4.6 million tourists, an increase of 19.3% over the same period in 2024. Of which, international visitors reached more than 2.23 million, an increase of nearly 11.4% and domestic visitors reached nearly 2.4 million, an increase of 28.5%. Total tourism revenue reached nearly 23,652 billion VND, an increase of 18.2% over the same period last year.

According to information from Cam Ranh International Airport, in June 2025, the airport welcomed 32 international flights/day. Of which, there were 19 flights/day from Korea to Cam Ranh, the rest were flights from Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, etc.

Source: Khanh Hoa News – news.baokhanhhoa.vn – Jun 28, 2025