Vietnam tourism enters growth cycle amid hospitality labor shortages

Vietnam's tourism industry has entered a new growth cycle. In the first half of 2026, the country welcomed approximately 12.3 million international visitors, a 14.9% increase year-on-year, while domestic visitors reached 81 million. Total tourism revenue reached approximately 569 trillion VND.

Da Nang has emerged as a primary driver of this trend, hosting nearly 9.8 million guests through accommodation facilities in the first half of 2026. International arrivals in the city rose by 28.7% to nearly 5.2 million, contributing to a significant increase in service revenue.

However, this expansion faces a critical bottleneck: a widespread shortage of hospitality and hotel personnel. Industry experts note that the deficit is no longer localized but affects most developing tourism provinces. There is a lack of both quantity and quality in staff, spanning from direct operations to middle management. This shortage is driving intense competition for labor between destinations, which may lead to rising labor costs and increased service prices in the long term.