Vietnam News Today (Jul. 17): Vietnam’s Tourism Sector Gets High-tech Makeover to Woo Global Travelers

	Vietnam News Today (Jul. 15): Vietnam, Cambodia Gear Up For 2nd Border Defense Friendship Exchange
	Vietnam News Today (Jul. 16): Vietnam and South Africa Promote Trade and Investment Cooperation

Vietnam's two-tier local administration model conforms to global trends: expert

Vietnam’s rollout of a two-tier local administration model and restructuring of provincial administrative units is a sound policy that conforms to global trends. Dr. Luong Tuan Anh from the UK’s De Montfort University told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident reporters in London.

Anh expressed his support for this policy, asserting that it is a necessary reform for Vietnam to capitalize on domestic and international opportunities for growth. Vietnam's “Doi Moi” (renewal) policy over the past four decades needs updates in a rapidly changing world with geopolitical instabilities, climate change, and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI).

Streamlining the administration apparatus could slash recurrent expenditures, which now consume nearly 56% of the national budget, compared to just 30% in the UK, thereby freeing up resources for development projects, he said.

The two-tier local administration model, he explained, would empower local authorities by granting them greater autonomy to tailor policies to their specific needs and capabilities.

The provincial administrative restructuring, while costly, promises substantial benefits, according to his recent research on merging Vietnamese provinces, VNA reported.

A corner of Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)

He pointed to the emergence of Ho Chi Minh City with Binh Duong and Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces as a prime example. The move would create a dynamic economic hub, with Ho Chi Minh City serving as a financial center, Binh Duong as an industrial powerhouse, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau as a tourism magnet. By erasing administrative boundaries, the new megacity would facilitate smoother transport and lure foreign investors, allowing them to work in Ho Chi Minh City, build factories in Binh Duong, and reside in Vung Tau.

Anh argued that such mergers would create driving forces, enabling each region to amplify its strengths and enhance its role within a unified province. “This creates momentum for better development opportunities”, he said.

Drawing on the UK’s administrative reforms, he highlighted the benefits of digital governance, including online procedures that ensure data interoperability across ministries and public service providers. These systems offer real-time feedback on errors and allow applicants to track document processing, improving efficiency and transparency.

Vietnam should adopt similar principles of transparency, accountability, and scientific rigor to professionalise its public administration, Anh suggested.

The Lego plant in Binh Duong province. The recent increase in capital flow by Nordic companies shows significant interest in long-term operations in Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam welcomes Chinese investment in smart urban development: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung received Fung Wai Ka Thomas, Director of CCC Infrastructure, and Lai Rong Huo, Chairman of Hero Group (Shenzhen, China) in Hanoi on July 16.

Deputy PM Dung welcomed the companies’ interest and plans to invest and do business in Vietnam, particularly in the area of smart urban development.

He noted that Vietnam has introduced policies to develop smart urban chains, with centrally run cities serving as the core. Businesses are encouraged to engage in various areas, such as providing financial and technical support for pilot projects; cooperating on research and technology transfer for urban management; and training human resources. In addition, companies may directly invest in smart urban projects in potential localities, starting with pilot models at the commune or ward level.

Deputy PM Dung also emphasized that the Government has decentralized authority to localities. Enterprises should work directly with local authorities for guidance, project development, and compliance with legal regulations. The Government stands ready to support and create the most favorable conditions for Chinese enterprises in general, and for CCC Infrastructure and Hero Group in particular, to do business effectively in Vietnam, reported VOV.

Deputy PM Nguyen Chi Dung affirms Vietnamese Government support for Chinese investors, including CCC Infrastructure and Shenzhen’s Hero Group. (Photo: VGP)

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Hong Kong, CCC Infrastructure is a leading provider of market research, investment consulting, asset portfolio management, and financial services.

Hero Group, based in Shenzhen, is a diversified real estate enterprise specializing in smart and sustainable urban development. The group currently operates 20 affiliated companies in major cities across China.

CCC Infrastructure Director Fung Wai Ka Thomas expressed interest in carrying out real estate projects in Vietnam, particularly smart urban developments in Bac Ninh province and Tay Ninh province (formerly Long An). Hero Group and CCC also wish to invest in high-quality industrial parks across various Vietnamese provinces and cities, and are seeking support from the Government in exploring investment opportunities in the time ahead.

Nordic firms show long-term interest in Vietnam as investments increase

Statistics from the Foreign Investment Agency show that foreign direct investment (FDI) totalled US$21.5 billion in the first half of this year, an increase of 32.6% over the same period last year. Of this, newly registered capital reached US$9.29 billion in 1,988 projects.

Notably, among 72 countries and territories investing in Vietnam over the period, Sweden emerged as the third largest investor, with a total investment of US$1 billion or 10.8% of newly registered FDI, coming after only Singapore and China.

According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden, which also covers Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Latvia, Sweden’s increase in investment in Vietnam reflects a broader shift towards Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is considered a strategic destination with a stable environment, a growing market and improving infrastructure, cited VNS.

Denmark is also expanding its presence in Vietnam, especially in the green transition, with leading companies like Ørsted, Vestas and COWI increasing operations in Vietnam through offshore wind, logistics infrastructure, engineering consultancy and sustainability projects.

A notable project is a carbon-neutral Lego factory that started operations in the former Binh Duong province in April.

To further attract investments from Sweden and Denmark, which are global leaders in innovation and sustainability aligning with Vietnam’s ambitions to attract high-quality investment, the Vietnam Trade Office in Sweden urged more focus on accelerating administrative reforms, particularly in energy and green infrastructure, along with the development of specialised industrial zones for green and digital investments.

Investment promotion targeting Nordic markets should also be enhanced, while improving regulatory frameworks for ESG and carbon taxation will also be critical.

Vietnam’s tourism sector gets high-tech makeover to woo global travelers

Vietnam’s tourism sector is getting a wild upgrade with virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and extended reality (XR), turning ancient history into mind-blowing digital adventures.

When technology breathes life into heritage

The former imperial capital of Hue, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre’s “Finding the lost imperial palace” project is a standout. Through Nreal Air AR glasses, visitors step into the Nguyen Dynasty, watching virtual court rituals, guard changes at the Ngo Mon Gate, and performances at the Duyet Thi Royal Theatre, all staged at their original sites. The tech doesn’t just rebuild lost architecture, it sparks emotional ties to history, delivering a culturally rich experience.

In the central province of Quang Tri, telecom provider MobiFone has teamed up with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to digitise museums, Chut ethnic cultural space, and the UNESCO-listed Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park. Using 360-degree photos, 3D models, VR videos, and digital narration, remote explorers get a near-real taste of these sites. “This isn’t just about preserving heritage, it’s about making it accessible, especially for the youth”, said Phan Thanh Hoai, Director of MobiFone Quang Binh.

Dang Hong Nguyen Khang, a graduate at the US’s New Jersey Institute of Technology, said effective VR needs to do more than dazzle the eyes, hit multiple senses and convey cultural depth.

Meanwhile, CEO of AZA Travel Nguyen Tien Dat said AI now streamlines tour design, once the domain of seasoned experts, by personalising travel experiences with unprecedented efficiency.

Still, experts cautioned that VR cannot fully replace on-the-ground experiences. Rather, it acts as a teaser, priming travelers for in-person adventures.

Toward smart tourism ecosystem

The surge of XR, AI, and digital platforms is upending Vietnam’s tourism activities. Digital platforms now allow businesses to bypass middlemen, serving up tailor-made travel plans straight to consumers via smartphone with a few taps.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong called digital transformation an inevitable and objective move to keep the industry booming, according to VNA.

Virtual restoration of Phung Tien Palace in Hue city. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese Government has responded with a master plan for tourism development through 2030, alongside plans to foster smart tourism nationwide. Yet hurdles loom, particularly in making tech accessible to all.

According to Master Tran Tuyen, from the Centre for Sustainable Tourism Research and Development (CST) at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City, while younger travelers are tech-savvy, user-friendly VR designs could also win over older crowds.

Dismissing fears that technology might replace human tour guides, CST Director Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Van Hanh said it is turning guides into “living storytellers”, adding soul to virtual experiences with human insight.

Looking ahead, experts predicted that 2025 will be AR’s breakout year, akin to the ubiquity of QR codes. With AI cooking up personalized trips and lightweight, user-friendly gadgets, Vietnam’s tourism industry is ready to explode.

Hoi An named among world’s top 10 cities for 2025: Travel+Leisure

UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site Hoi An, in the central city of Da Nang, was ranked sixth among top 10 cities in the world for 2025 by leading global travel and lifestyle magazine Travel+Leisure.

The announcement was part of the prestigious World's Best Awards 2025, where readers rated cities based on diverse criteria including food, accommodations, cultural richness, nightlife, affordability, and overall visitor experience.

This riverside city is renowned for its network of canals as well as the distinctive architecture in its Ancient Town, which is marked by a fusion of indigenous and foreign cultures, the travel website wrote.

Travel+Leisure suggested that travelers wander and photograph the picturesque streets around Hoi An which are adorned with yellow and brown ancient houses and illuminated by vibrant lanterns.

A corner of Hoi An in the central city of Da Nang.

Visitors can also enjoy the city's many cafés, nightlife spots, and shopping boutiques, it added.

Earlier, Hoi An is recommended to tourists in a Gulf News article titled "Top 15 Southeast Asia tourist destinations-why it's worth a visit."

The ancient town was also named among the Top 44 most beautiful places in the world by renowned UK-based travel magazine Time Out.

Founded in 1937, Travel+Leisure is a renowned American travel magazine. With 16 million global monthly readers, it is considered a "golden guide" for international travelers. Its articles strongly influence global travel trends and serve as a trusted media channel, helping shape destination branding.

Vietnam News Today (Jul. 12): Vietnam Proposes Cooperation Priorities Between ASEAN and Dialogue Partners Vietnam News Today (Jul. 12): Vietnam proposes cooperation priorities between ASEAN and dialogue partners; Prime Minister works with USABC to foster economic and investment ties; ...

Vietnam News Today (Jul. 13): Vietnam-UK business dialogue seeks to expand economic cooperation Vietnam News Today (Jul. 13): Vietnam–UK business dialogue seeks to expand economic cooperation; Vietnam, Côte d'Ivoire mark 50 years of diplomatic ties with ceremony in ...