Ep 304: Vietnam's Travel & Tourism Profile is Red Hot in 2026 - So What Happens Next?

Even if 75% of what Vietnam is planning comes together, it won’t just become the second-biggest economy in South East Asia but one of the Top 20 worldwide.

Vietnam has set an official target of 50 million annual arrivals by 2030, while also making a pledge that tourism strategy will target high-spending visitors. Meanwhile, it welcomed more than 2 million inbound visitors in each of the first four months of 2026 for the first time.

The episode features special guest Mike Tatarski, Ho Chi Minh City-based founder of Vietnam Weekly, discussing Vietnam’s ambitious national transformation involving major expansion of its travel, tourism and transportation sectors. Coverage includes the continuing development of resorts, theme parks and MICE facilities on the island of Phu Quoc, which will host the 2027 APEC Summit, as well as inbound market growth from China, India, South Korea and other ASEAN nations. The discussion also addresses the high cost of domestic flights, the changing digital payments landscape, North-South High Speed Railway construction timelines, Long Thanh International Airport opening, passenger transportation infrastructure, and which airlines will operate first.