Vietnam has ideal landscape to become global film studio

Vietnam’s vast tourism potential

A high-level delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council, consisting of 40 members representing major corporations, such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, American Express, Mastercard, Visa Inc., Warburg Pincus, Mondelez, Philip Morris International, and Coca-Cola, met with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism on March 20. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation in tourism and cultural industries.

Ted Osius emphasized that Vietnam possesses vast potential in tourism and cultural industries. Many US businesses are keen to explore Vietnam’s policies for sustainable tourism development, digital transformation trends in the tourism sector, and ways to enhance e-commerce and digital payments in the country.

US businesses are also interested in Vietnam’s development strategy and how to support its creative industries, particularly in such fields as film, music, performing arts, video games, and publishing. According to Ted Osius, Vietnam’s breathtaking landscapes provide an ideal backdrop for global film productions, citing Ha Long, Quang Binh, Ninh Binh, and Hoi An as prime examples.

Former US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, President & CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council, at the meeting with the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism

“Hollywood film crews that have previously shot in Vietnam have shared memorable experiences, praising the hospitality of the Vietnamese people and the strong support from local authorities. The stunning footage of Vietnam showcased in these films has left a lasting impression on global audiences,” Ted Osius stated.

He expressed hope for more direct flights between Vietnam and the US, simplified procedures for Hollywood film crews to work in Vietnam, and expanded cultural, sports, and tourism cooperation between the two nations.

US businesses committed to supporting Vietnam’s smart tourism development

Representatives of US businesses reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Vietnam’s tourism development. A representative from Marriott Group expressed delight over Vietnam’s recent visa policy reforms, which facilitate tourism growth. Marriott pledged to accompany Vietnam’s hospitality industry in its future development.

Meanwhile, a representative from Apple highlighted Vietnam’s enormous tourism potential, emphasizing the importance of digital platforms and transformation. They noted that fostering an environment for content creators and game developers to come to Vietnam for innovation and promotion would unlock further growth opportunities.

A Warburg Pincus representative suggested prioritizing health and wellness tourism. Citing the Grand Ho Tram Resort as an example, they emphasized the importance of attracting visitors to world-class entertainment and leisure facilities, which would enhance Vietnam’s competitiveness in the regional tourism market.

To help Vietnam’s tourism sector embrace digital transformation and enhance its global competitiveness, US businesses proposed collaboration in applying artificial intelligence (AI) and big data for tourist behavior analysis, trend forecasting, and optimizing marketing strategies.

Additionally, US businesses expressed interest in cooperating on electronic payment platforms and e-wallet solutions to make transactions more convenient for international visitors. They also proposed strengthening collaboration in virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) tourism to enhance digital travel experiences and promote Vietnam’s destinations globally. Furthermore, they suggested fostering a TravelTech startup ecosystem by connecting Vietnamese tourism startups with US investors.

US business representatives reaffirmed their commitment to closely working with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to expand international markets for Vietnamese cultural products and help Vietnamese businesses access cutting-edge digital content production technologies.