Ep 84: 2021: The Year So Far in Vietnam, with Mike Tatarski

Listen to this episode

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

Google

Podbean

View All Episodes

About This Episode

21 Jul 2021 • 32m00s

Two-thirds through July, South East Asia’s travel recovery has yet to occur - and is receding into the distance. With the Delta variant spreading fast across ASEAN, nations that were COVID-safe earlier in the year are now under strict lockdown. So today’s show kicks off the “2021: The Year So Far” series, which will feature local experts and analysts in each market.

The journey begins in Vietnam, as Gary and Hannah welcome Ho Chi Minh City-based Mike Tatarski, who is Editor-in-Chief of Saigoneer and founder of the Vietnam Weekly newsletter.

We track back to the start of the year, when domestic travel was relatively free, and then a case surge began around the Tet Holiday.

The current outbreak began in late April, and new infections continue to soar daily. Mike discusses the up-to-date situation nationwide, and the why the vaccine rollout began so slowly.

We also debate the outlook for airlines, travel firms and domestic tourism.

Plus, what are the prospects for the proposed Phu Quoc Sandbox, which is slated to start in October?

Resources

Mike Tatarksi’s Twitter

The Saigoneer

Vietnam Weekly newsletter

Vietnam Weekly podcast on Spotify

« Next Episode Ep 85: 2021: The Year So Far in Singapore, with Karen Yue Previous Episode » Ep 83: When Will US & Canadian Tourists Return to Asia?, with Ernst Flach

View All Episodes

Latest Episodes Catch up with the pods you may have missed

Play

11 Sep 2026 • 32m04s

Ep 317: Vietnam's Golden Tourism Year Continues, Thailand Revises its Visa Rules for Travellers & AirAsia Tests New Routes into Europe

So, we’re just three weeks away from that all important fourth quarter of the year - and it’s a hectic time across the travel landscape, with plenty of talking points to deconstruct. This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the air travel impacts of a major volcanic eruption (with a familiar name) in Indonesia and a State of Emergency in Malaysia caused by wild fire “haze”. Plus, we look at how Russian, Chinese and South Korean tourists are fuelling Vietnam’s dynamic inbound surge, while Cambodia counts the cost of a dismal year for international arrivals.

Play

21 Aug 2026 • 35m46s

Ep 316: Thailand's Tourism Tax is Back, Vietnam Targets 50 Million Visitors & Russia Entices South East Asian Tourists

“Tourists are now viewed as a source of taxation revenue. It’s increasingly hard to raise taxes on your own citizens, but if you have 30+ million tourists each year, that’s a lot of potential tax you can raise.” This week, Gary and Hannah discuss the multiple challenges Thailand faces in increasing its proposed tourism tax, from THB300 to THB450 - and collecting it. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s stellar tourism run continues with a raft of upcoming initiatives and an eye-watering new inbound tourism target.