Anticipating the influx of high-end international tourists.

With the government 's policy of expanding visa exemptions for international markets, localities have begun developing high-quality products with the expectation of attracting more high-spending international tourists this year.

Quang Ninh province is developing a product offering musical performances and fireworks displays on cruise ships in the evening to attract high-end tourists. Photo: Phuong Anh

Developing premium products

Recently, two American millionaires traveled to Vietnam, combining tourism with investment opportunities. They toured and experienced the region from Ha Giang to Ha Long (Quang Ninh province), following a new route within the core area of ​​the Ha Long heritage site. This is the first group of global millionaires and billionaires to visit Quang Ninh as part of a special tour program for ultra-luxury travelers. It is expected that another 4-5 groups of global billionaires will visit Quang Ninh in the near future.

According to the Quang Ninh Provincial Department of Tourism, aiming to develop a luxury tourism market, the province has prepared high-end products. The province has put into operation three beaches in Ha Long Bay – Soi Sim, Hang Co, and Trinh Nu – and identified seven pristine islands and beaches specifically for billionaire and luxury tourists. In addition to exclusive tourism products, Quang Ninh is also developing high-end tourism products to attract high-spending tourists, such as art performances combined with night cruise experiences; helicopter shuttle services, etc.

Not only Quang Ninh, but many provinces and cities are now focusing on developing high-end tourism products to attract high-spending tourists. For example, Ha Giang has launched helicopter tours transporting tourists from Ha Giang to Hanoi and Quang Ninh. Phu Quoc (Kien Giang) is developing high-end resort products at famous resorts such as InterContinental, Four Seasons, and Ritz-Carlton… Quang Binh is promoting cave tourism with high-end adventure tourism products at Son Doong and Tu Lan caves. Da Nang and Nha Trang are developing markets for cruise tourism and MICE tourism (tourism combined with conferences, seminars, and events)...

In Hanoi, alongside traditional cultural tourism products, the capital's tourism industry is also focusing on developing high-end tourism products. According to Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, Hanoi is promoting the development of golf tourism and MICE tourism, combining relaxation with experiencing local culture.

Building a service system that meets expectations.

According to data from Google, international searches for tourist accommodations in Vietnam increased by 15-45% year-on-year from the end of November 2024 to the end of February 2025.

Experts also believe that Vietnam is becoming a popular vacation destination for the ultra-wealthy and high-spending tourists. In fact, in recent years, Vietnam has welcomed many groups of billionaires and ultra-wealthy individuals for vacations and conferences, such as Bill Gates' vacation in Da Nang, or the event where over 200 billionaires attended the "Art for Climate" conference. Many weddings of Indian billionaires have been held in Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Da Nang, etc. Since the beginning of 2025 alone, a series of luxury yachts have brought thousands of international tourists to Vietnam.

Assessing the international tourist market in 2025, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research, believes that welcoming high-spending tourist groups opens up great opportunities for Vietnam in terms of tourism development and economic investment.

"High-spending international tourists from Asia, such as China, South Korea, and India, are very interested in the Vietnamese tourism market, participating in golf tourism experiences, cruise tourism... In addition, European tourists really enjoy green tourism and ecotourism," Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan commented.

Boosting international tourism, with a focus on attracting high-spending tourists seeking long-term experiences, is a top priority in Vietnam's tourism development strategy. To effectively attract international tourists, especially to create a sustainable appeal for luxury travelers, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel, Nguyen Quoc Ky, believes that high-end customers, particularly the ultra-wealthy, value privacy, unique and exclusive products, and are willing to spend thousands of dollars on a single service. Therefore, localities need to develop diverse products tailored to each customer segment, with prices ranging from affordable to high-end.

According to Nguyen Hoai Bao, Director of Wildtour Tourism Company, localities and tourism businesses need to develop unique experiential tourism forms such as: scuba diving tourism, golf tourism, MICE tourism, cruise tourism, wildlife exploration tourism, cave exploration, etc.

To date, Vietnam grants visa exemptions to citizens of 26 countries for stays ranging from 14 to 45 days, depending on nationality. According to Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, this is a liberal policy to promote tourism development and optimize the benefits from international visitors for economic growth.

"To retain tourists, especially to attract high-end visitors and investors, localities and businesses need to cooperate in leveraging natural advantages and building a high-quality service system," Mr. Ha Van Sieu emphasized.

General Secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Association, Vu Quoc Tri:

Leveraging the advantages of being a "World's Leading Heritage Destination"

In 2024, Vietnam's tourism sector welcomed 17.5 million international visitors, the same as before the Covid-19 pandemic. This year, we aim for a higher target of 22-23 million visitors. The important thing is not only to achieve the target number of visitors but also to increase revenue from international tourists.

Currently, the average spending of international tourists in Vietnam is $132 per day, which is still lower than some countries in the region. Attracting high-end tourists could improve their spending in Vietnam, as this segment can spend an average of $250-$400 per day, and even much more for billionaires. To attract high-spending international tourists, attractive policies are needed, along with collaboration between localities and businesses to develop appealing products. With its advantage of stunning natural landscapes from mountains to coast, Vietnam has been honored five times as a "World's Leading Heritage Destination." Localities should leverage the value of these recognized destinations to develop unique and distinctive products that suit the needs of different tourist segments.

Chairman of LuxGroup, Pham Ha:

Prioritize the development of green tourism.

International tourists visiting Vietnam are very fond of the natural scenery, local cuisine, and culture. High-spending luxury tourists will choose unique, less crowded products, and they prefer quiet spaces and a clean, green environment. I believe that regardless of the product line developed, the most important factor remains the sustainability and stability of the product. Local authorities and businesses should focus on developing green tourism, paying attention to minimizing plastic waste, reducing pollution, and protecting the environment and tourist landscape. We could even create products that allow tourists to participate in activities that preserve the environment and local culture, such as: tourists participating in sports tourism activities, exploration, litter cleanup, and experiencing community culture…

Besides developing attractive products, localities and tourism businesses need to enhance the value of destinations and strengthen the promotion of Vietnam's image as a friendly, hospitable, safe, and attractive destination to potential tourism markets.

Nguyen Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism:

Attractive to guests who stay for a longer period.

Attracting international tourists and increasing revenue to develop tourism into a key economic sector is a task for the entire tourism industry, including Hanoi. Over the years, Hanoi has developed many new tourism products in both the inner and outer areas, and strengthened new tourist routes connecting Hanoi with other provinces and cities to attract international tourists who stay longer and spend more.

To encourage tourists to stay longer in Hanoi, in addition to experiential activities, accommodation services need to be improved and upgraded. Currently, 4-5 star hotels in Hanoi are implementing promotional programs to offer tourists more experiences with quality services at attractive prices. This policy will be widely promoted through various media channels to encourage both domestic and international tourists to stay longer. Furthermore, accommodation establishments in the capital city need to collaborate with organizations that host large-scale international cultural and sporting events to attract international visitors to Vietnam, such as golf tourism, music tourism, and MICE tourism (tourism combined with organizing events, seminars, and conferences).

Le Quyen wrote

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/don-dau-dong-khach-quoc-te-cao-cap-697119.html