Viet Nam is setting its sights high for the decade ahead. The country's tourism sector aims to welcome between 45 million and 50 million international arrivals by 2030, as part of the adjusted tourism system planning issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. This bold vision is paired with an equally ambitious domestic goal, targeting around 160 million domestic visitors within the same period.
The revised plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to transform tourism into a key economic sector, with a stronger focus on depth, quality, and efficiency rather than simply increasing visitor numbers. The industry aims to boost value-added services and generate broader economic spillover effects across transport, hospitality, culture, retail, and creative industries.
By 2030, the tourism sector is expected to directly contribute around 14% of Viet Nam's GDP and generate approximately 12 million jobs, including around 4 million direct jobs. The country also aims to develop about 2.5 million guest rooms across hotels, resorts, and other forms of lodging to meet rising demand.
One standout commitment in the revised plan is its strong environmental focus. By 2030, all tourist destinations, accommodation establishments, and coastal tourism services nationwide are expected to eliminate single-use plastics and non-biodegradable plastic bags, with businesses encouraged to transition toward circular economy models.
Viet Nam's tourism sector in 2025 served around 135.5 million domestic tourists and welcomed nearly 21.2 million international arrivals, up more than 20% year-on-year and exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels, with total revenue surpassing 1 quadrillion VND (about $38 billion USD).
According to Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, key growth areas going forward include cultural, nature-based, marine, and smart tourism products.
