Hue gears up for new tourism opportunities

Launchpad for Vietnam’s tourism

The National Tourism Year – Hue 2025 has officially commenced, marking a major cultural, economic, and tourism event at both national and international levels. This event coincides with the 50th anniversary of Hue’s liberation (1975-2025) and other major national celebration events.

The opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2025 – Photo: Nguyen Hieu

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the event will feature numerous exciting activities in Hue City and across various provinces and cities in Vietnam. Under the motto “combining strength, amplifying advantages, and unlocking success,” the program aims to deliver meaningful and far-reaching activities, including cultural and tourism weeks, culinary festivals, and diverse artistic performances. The focus is on transforming cultural assets and creative industries into key drivers for tourism growth.

Experts and tourism businesses view this event as more than just a way to attract visitors, which serves as a strategic launchpad for Vietnam’s tourism industry. Speaking with Vietnam Economic News, Le Cong Nang, CEO of Wondertour, noted that the National Tourism Year – Dien Bien 2024 demonstrated the power of leveraging resources and executing effective promotional strategies. The event drew 1.85 million visitors and generated VND3.3 trillion in revenue, highlighting the immense value of tourism when its potential is properly harnessed.

Vietnam’s tourism sector has set ambitious targets for 2025: welcoming 22-23 million international arrivals and serving 120-130 million domestic travelers. Tourism businesses see this event as a prime opportunity for localities to enhance infrastructure, improve service quality, and train human resources. Additionally, it encourages business collaboration and community engagement, fostering a synchronized and sustainable tourism ecosystem.

“When provinces and cities work toward a common goal, they will create an undeniable synergy that strengthens the tourism industry, boosts local economies, and enhances Vietnam’s global tourism profile,” Le Cong Nang emphasized.

With high expectations for National Tourism Year 2025, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated that the ministry will actively coordinate with various governmental agencies, Hue City, and businesses to implement key initiatives. These include developing a smart tourism ecosystem linked to digital transformation; strengthening connectivity and support, prioritizing visitor experiences; launching the “Vietnam tourism smile” campaign, focusing on professional services, warm hospitality, and a clean, green environment.

Foreign visitors to Hue – Photo: VNA

Hue’s golden opportunity in tourism

Hosting the National Tourism Year 2025 presents a golden opportunity for Hue to preserve, celebrate, and promote its traditional cultural values, reaffirming its unique historical and cultural status as a former imperial capital.

According to Le Cong Nang, Hue is well-positioned to attract large numbers of visitors with more than 170 planned events throughout 2025. “With meticulous preparations and collaborative efforts, Hue could achieve an impressive target of attracting 4.8-5 million visitors in 2025. This would not only underscore Hue’s appeal, but also solidify its position in the national and international tourism landscape,” he noted.

However, for Hue’s tourism to truly thrive, experts recommend developing unique tourism products that capitalize on the city’s rich cultural and heritage resources. Additionally, the creation of in-depth tourism experiences will help visitors engage more meaningfully with Hue’s historical sites.

Le Cong Nang suggested that immersive tours to the complex of Hue monuments, imperial tombs, and temples would give visitors a deeper insight into the city’s historical significance. Beyond sightseeing, Hue could attract higher-spending tourists by offering exclusive cultural experiences, such as imperial costume performances, imperial cuisine tastings, and reenactments of ancient court ceremonies.

Furthermore, investments in infrastructure are critical for sustaining long-term tourism growth. Key recommendations include developing high-quality accommodations to meet growing visitor demand; upgrading Phu Bai Airport to enhance transport capacity and introduce more domestic and international flight routes; and maximizing railway connectivity to provide additional travel options for tourists.

Speaking with Vietnam Economic News, Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asia Tourism Development Institute (ATI), emphasized the importance of inter-provincial tourism cooperation. He suggested organizing regional tourism circuits; hosting unique festivals and cultural events to attract tourists; improving tourism infrastructure, accommodation, and dining services; and strengthening marketing and promotional campaigns to highlight Hue’s attractions and tourism products.