In 2024, Vietnam will welcome nearly 17.6 million international visitors, up 39.5% year-on-year and close to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Asia remains the main source market, with South Korea leading the way, contributing nearly 4.57 million visitors. Meanwhile, Chinese visitors will see a strong recovery, reaching 3.74 million, up 114.4% year-on-year, but still not back to pre-pandemic levels.

Mr. Mauro Gasparotti, Senior Director of Southeast Asia, Hotel Advisory, Savills Hotels and Founder of Meet The Experts (MTE) conference series, shared that 2024 has witnessed a strong recovery of the tourism industry in Vietnam.

“Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi lead the country in tourism revenue, while key coastal destinations such as Nha Trang - Cam Ranh continue to record remarkable growth in the number of international visitors, up 125% compared to the previous year. Phu Quoc also recorded a tourism boom in the last months of the year, thanks to the increase in direct international flights. This growth trend is expected to continue, especially when Phu Quoc is chosen as the venue for the APEC 2027 Summit,” he commented.

The hotel market in Ho Chi Minh City has also seen a significant recovery in 2024, with occupancy rates and room rates continuing to grow steadily, especially in the high-end hotel segment managed by professional hotel operators. The reason is that new supply is very limited while the number of tourists continues to grow. This shows that Ho Chi Minh City still has room to develop new supply.

Ms. Uyen Nguyen, Head of Consulting at Savills Hotels, said that the hotel industry in Ho Chi Minh City is facing an opportunity to change with the development of urban infrastructure. When Long Thanh International Airport and connecting metro lines are completed, traveling around the city will become more convenient for domestic and foreign tourists.

“This will not only boost demand for long-term accommodation but also increase demand for hotels in non-central areas, while enhancing the attractiveness of Ho Chi Minh City to MICE tourism. Hotels located near metro stations will benefit from the increase in accommodation demand, thereby promoting the development of new projects in locations with convenient connections to the metro system,” said Ms. Uyen.

In terms of capital markets, Vietnam continues to attract the attention of investors, especially from the Asian region and private equity funds.

However, the number of transactions remains limited due to complex legal barriers and challenges in ownership structure, prolonging the negotiation process. Real estate located in large cities, with strategic locations and key infrastructure connections are still the most sought after, as investors prioritize assets with long-term value growth potential and stable business operations.

“The hospitality industry has shown impressive growth globally and has demonstrated its resilience after the crisis, making it a promising sector for investment and development in the future,” added Mr. Gasparotti. “Technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), is and will continue to create breakthroughs in the tourism and hospitality industry, helping to optimize operational processes and enhance personalized experiences for visitors. This is the right time to re-evaluate this industry as a sustainable and long-term investment opportunity.”

Many interesting topics such as market overview, risk analysis and investment opportunities, wellness real estate, sustainable development, luxury housing segment and new technologies shaping the resort industry will be updated and discussed at the upcoming MTE Conference. In addition to useful thematic content, the Conference also provides a platform to connect international investors with developers and provide the latest market insights.

“The MTE conference is not only a place to connect businesses and individuals in the hotel and real estate industry, but also promotes cooperation, providing in-depth perspectives to help investors, hotel owners and industry partners seize opportunities and prepare for the next market cycle," Mr. Gasparotti emphasized.

In addition to the conference program, MTE HCMC 2025 also brings experiences of the latest hotel technology and unique cuisine, HoSkar Night networking event, and other diverse activities within the program framework. MTE HCMC 2025 will bring attendees to share, update market information and maintain and expand business opportunities in the industry.