Winners of the Vietnam Tourism Awards 2012, the most prestigious in the sector, were announced at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 5.
The awards, the 13th to be sponsored by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Vietnam Tourism Association, honoured 62 outstanding travel agencies, hotels and hospitality services providers and carriers in the country.
They include the top 10 five-star hotels, the top 10 four-star hotels, the top 10 three-star hotels, the top 10 domestic tour operators, the top 10 inbound tour providers, and the top 10 outbound tour providers.
Melia Hanoi, Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi and Vinpearl Resort Nha Trang are among the 10 leading five-star hotels and resorts. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City ’s Hoan Cau and Thang Loi top the lists of leading four-star and three-star hotels in 2012, respectively.
Vietravel Co. Ltd wins the most outstanding outbound tour provider, while Saigontourist Co. Ltd is the leading inbound tour provider. The two companies, along with Hanoitourist Company, Ben Thanh Service Joint Stock Company and Da Nang Travel Joint Stock Company, are among the top 10 domestic tour operators.
Two carriers, VietJet Air and Vietnam Airlines, were named as the most dynamic airline and the one carrying the most passengers, respectively.
In 2012, the tourism sector launched its tourism development strategy to 2020 with a vision to 2030, and registered stable growth despite facing difficulties because of the global economic downturn.
Vietnam received 38.8 million domestic and foreign holiday-makers and earned 160 trillion VND (7.5 billion USD) last year.
The country strives to welcome about 10 million foreign visitors in 2020 and 18 million 10 years later. It has also set a target of earning 18 billion USD from tourism activities in 2020 and 36 billion USD in 2030.