Vietnam tourism shifts focus to local resources and cultural heritage

Vietnam is focusing on diversifying tourism products by leveraging local resources, cultural heritage, and regional specialties to increase economic value and visitor stay duration.

In Dong Thap province, authorities are integrating sports and culture with tourism. The VPBank Music Marathon 2026 recently attracted over 15,500 participants, serving as a platform to promote local landscapes and services. In the first nine months of 2026, Dong Thap welcomed 5.95 million visitors, including 513,000 international tourists, generating 3.35 trillion VND in revenue.

In the Central and Central Highlands regions, provinces like Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and Lam Dong are shifting focus toward indigenous assets. This includes utilizing Cham heritage, Raglai culture, and agricultural models such as durian orchards to create unique experiences. This strategy aligns with national goals to host 45-50 million international visitors by 2030 and increase tourism's direct contribution to GDP to 10-12%.