Following the grand parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been assigned to organize commemorative activities.

This is a prime opportunity for the entire sector to host large-scale cultural and sports events, stimulating tourism demand and contributing to economic growth.

At the ministry’s mid-year review conference on July 18, Minister Nguyen Van Hung reaffirmed the determination to make tourism a leading economic sector.

He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to socio-economic development and its efforts to contribute to the government’s 8% growth target.

According to the conference report, tourism remained a bright spot in the first half of 2025, making significant contributions to national development.

Vietnam welcomed more than 10.6 million international visitors, up 20.7% year-on-year. Total tourism revenue reached approximately 518 trillion VND (about 20.4 billion USD).

From March 1 to December 31, 2025, tourists from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland are eligible for visa exemptions when traveling to Vietnam on tour packages.

At the conference, Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee Vu Thu Ha emphasized the capital’s leading role in organizing cultural and tourism events, linking them with heritage preservation and promotion.

In the first six months of 2025, Hanoi held over 1,290 events across various fields, attracting around 15.56 million visitors, an 11.8% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Among them were more than 3.66 million international tourists, accounting for over 33% of Vietnam’s total foreign arrivals.

Tourism revenue exceeded 63 trillion VND (about 2.48 billion USD). Heritage preservation was effectively implemented, and several tourism offerings were renewed and creatively designed, including night tours, traditional games, and educational programs, which attracted widespread interest from both domestic and international travelers.

Vu Thu Ha also noted that Hanoi is working closely with central ministries and agencies to organize major events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2), especially the official ceremonies and parades.

She requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to coordinate plans to ensure these activities meet national expectations.

To achieve the over 8% growth target, Hanoi proposed that the Ministry soon issue a circular on technical and economic norms for public services in culture, sports, tourism, family, journalism, and communications. These would serve as a foundation for detailed planning.

She also urged the Ministry to propose a decree to the Government establishing a legal framework for administrative sanctions in the cultural, sports, and tourism sectors, especially in light of the absence of specialized inspection forces.

To ensure the success of events marking the 80th anniversary of National Day, Minister Nguyen Van Hung instructed the entire sector and local authorities to carefully select relevant topics and key events, and to mobilize resources effectively.

He asked localities to work with the Ministry to organize the exhibition “80 years of the journey to Independence - Freedom - Happiness,” intensify artistic activities, promote tourism, and spread traditional cultural values to meet the growing cultural demands of the public.

The Minister encouraged creativity at the local level in organizing artistic nights and community cultural spaces to make tourism more appealing during the holiday.

The entire sector must remain aligned with tourism development goals and strive to meet growth targets. The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism will coordinate nationwide efforts and shift promotional strategies in line with the upcoming peak season for international visitors. Localities are encouraged to innovate destination marketing models and develop signature tourism products.

Directors of provincial departments of culture, sports, and tourism are expected to actively propose solutions and effectively tap into key markets to help elevate tourism as a spearhead economic sector.

PV