According to the Government Portal, in 2013, tourism promotion programmes focussed on quality and effectiveness. The VNAT joined many international tourism events and organised various promotional activities across the country.

These activities contributed to increasing the number of international tourists to Vietnam and that of tourists from traditional markets. Projects outlined in the national action plan on tourism were actively implemented while market research and product development enhanced.

However, the sector’s development is not yet sustainable as its competitiveness remains unimproved. Integrating comprehensively into the region and the world will be challenged by further difficulties and fiercer competition predicted in the coming years.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has devised a plan for 2014, based on the strategy and the master plan on developing tourism to 2020, with a vision to 2030 and the national action plan on tourism for the 2013-2020 period.

It will focus on improving tourism products and service quality, addressing the sector’s shortcomings and organising successfully the National Tourism Year 2014 in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong and other regional provinces, as well as preparing for the National Tourism Year 2015 in central Thanh Hoa province.

It also plans to fulfill tourism development targets set for 2015 in 2014.

The ministry has made a suggestion to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung about building a resolution to promote tourism for the 2014-2020 period, which is expected to create a breakthrough in tourism development professionally.

In 2013, Vietnam received 7,572,352 international tourists, a 10.6 percent rise over 2012, bringing 200 trillion VND (9.4 billion USD) for the state coffer. Most of international markets saw increases: Russia 71.1 percent, China 33.5 percent, Thailand 19.3 percent, New Zealand 16.3 percent, Indonesia 15.7 percent, Belgium 14.1 percent, and Malaysia 13.5 percent.