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| Vietnam |
The initiative is designed to bring together tourism information currently spread across government agencies, provinces and cities, transport providers, accommodation businesses, tourism operators and other organisations. By connecting this information through common standards and shared digital platforms, Vietnam aims to improve destination management, understand visitor behaviour and deliver more personalised travel experiences.
The move comes as Vietnam's tourism industry continues to expand rapidly. During the first half of 2026, the country welcomed more than 12.2 million international visitors, an increase of 14.8 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Domestic tourism reached approximately 81 million visitors, while tourism revenue was reported at VND569 trillion, or approximately US$21.66 billion.
The growing scale of tourism makes reliable and connected data increasingly important as Vietnam works towards its ambition of making tourism a key economic sector.
Building Vietnam's National Tourism Data Ecosystem
At the heart of the initiative is a proposed national tourism data ecosystem based on a model known as "1+34+N".
The model is designed to connect a national tourism data platform with the tourism databases of Vietnam's 34 provinces and cities, together with data contributed by ministries, government agencies, tourism businesses and other relevant organisations. Recent Vietnamese government information describes the broader framework as "1+1+34+N", incorporating both the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Public Security alongside the 34 local administrations and participating organisations.
The objective is to create a nationwide network in which tourism data can be connected, standardised, updated and shared rather than remaining isolated within individual organisations.
The national platform will provide the digital foundation, while local authorities will contribute and maintain destination information and businesses will be able to use connected data to improve their operations.
For travellers, the ultimate goal is straightforward: better information, smoother services and more relevant tourism experiences.
From Fragmented Information to Connected Data
Vietnam already generates enormous amounts of tourism-related information.
Data is produced through immigration, airlines and airports, transport systems, hotels, tourism attractions, online bookings, electronic payments and telecommunications networks. However, much of this information has traditionally existed in separate systems.
When data is fragmented, its potential is limited. Tourism authorities may have difficulty building a complete picture of visitor movements, businesses may lack access to broader market insights and destinations can find it harder to respond quickly to changing travel patterns.
The proposed national ecosystem is intended to overcome these limitations by creating greater interoperability between systems.
The emphasis is on ensuring that data is accurate, complete, clean, current, standardised and capable of being securely shared and used.
Data at the Heart of Smart Tourism
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| Vietnam |
The national tourism database is being positioned as the digital backbone of the country's smart tourism ecosystem, supporting a transition from traditional management based heavily on experience towards more informed, data-driven decision-making.
Better data could help tourism authorities understand where visitors are travelling, how long they stay, what experiences they choose and how visitor patterns change throughout the year.
This information can assist destinations with planning infrastructure, managing visitor capacity and responding to emerging tourism trends.
For tourism businesses, access to better information can support more effective product development, marketing and operational decisions.
Creating Digital Visitor Profiles
One of the most ambitious elements of the initiative is the development of digital visitor profiles.
By connecting appropriate tourism data, authorities aim to improve forecasting and gain a deeper understanding of visitor journeys and preferences. This could eventually support more personalised services and real-time tourism experiences.
For example, better understanding of visitor interests could help tourism businesses present more relevant attractions, accommodation, tours and experiences to different markets.
Artificial intelligence is expected to play an increasing role in this transformation, particularly in analysing data and personalising tourism marketing for different visitor groups.
The intention is not simply to make tourism more digital, but to use technology to make the visitor experience more useful and responsive.
Supporting Sustainable Destination Management
A national tourism data ecosystem could also play an important role in sustainable tourism development.
Reliable information about visitor numbers and movements can help destinations monitor pressure on popular attractions and better understand their carrying capacity.
This is particularly important as Vietnam's tourism industry continues to grow. Managing visitor flows effectively can help protect natural environments, cultural heritage sites and local communities while ensuring visitors continue to enjoy high-quality experiences.
Data can also help identify opportunities to distribute visitors more evenly across destinations, encouraging travellers to explore lesser-known attractions rather than concentrating demand in a small number of heavily visited locations.
Digital Transformation Already Underway
Vietnam's tourism industry is not starting from scratch.
The country has already developed a range of digital platforms and services, including the Vietnam Travel national tourism application, tourism databases, statistical reporting systems, tourism management and business platforms, digital tourism dashboards, smart tourism cards, electronic ticketing and multimedia audio guide services.
These existing systems provide an important foundation for the wider national ecosystem.
The challenge now is to connect them effectively so that information can move between systems and provide greater value to tourism authorities, businesses and travellers.
A national tourism platform can help reduce duplication, avoid unnecessary investment in disconnected systems and create more consistent digital standards across the country.
The 2026 to 2027 Implementation Phase
The development of the national tourism data ecosystem is planned as a multi-stage process.
During 2026 and 2027, the focus will be on connecting fragmented data held by ministries, local authorities and tourism businesses and establishing the core national data system.
From 2027 onwards, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to continue developing the shared platform while introducing common data standards and mechanisms for data sharing and utilisation.
Some destinations with strong digital infrastructure and significant visitor numbers are expected to provide opportunities for early implementation, testing and refinement before the approach is expanded more widely.
One Digital Vision for Vietnam Tourism
The philosophy behind the initiative can be summarised simply: the central government builds the platform, local authorities implement it, businesses use the data and visitors ultimately benefit.
Interoperability is therefore critical.
If every destination develops its own separate digital system without being able to communicate with other platforms, the tourism industry risks creating more fragmentation rather than solving it.
A connected national ecosystem provides the possibility of a much more unified approach to tourism management across Vietnam.
Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Tourism Marketing
Artificial intelligence is expected to become another important component of Vietnam's digital tourism transformation.
With access to better-quality data, AI can help analyse visitor trends, identify emerging markets and assist with personalised tourism promotion.
Rather than using identical promotional messages for every potential traveller, destinations could increasingly tailor campaigns according to the interests and characteristics of different markets.
This could help Vietnam improve not only visitor numbers but also the quality and economic value of tourism by encouraging longer stays, greater spending and repeat visits.
Better Experiences for Travellers
For visitors, the success of the national tourism data ecosystem will ultimately be measured by how much easier and more enjoyable it makes travelling through Vietnam.
The benefits could range from more accurate destination information and easier ticketing to personalised recommendations, improved transport connections and better access to tourism services.
Businesses could gain more efficient digital tools, while tourism authorities could respond more quickly to changing visitor needs.
The long-term ambition is a tourism system in which technology works quietly behind the scenes to make the journey more seamless.
Vietnam's Digital Tourism Future
Vietnam's development of a national tourism data ecosystem represents a significant evolution in the country's approach to tourism.
With international and domestic visitor numbers continuing to grow, the ability to understand tourism through accurate, connected and timely data will become increasingly important.
The proposed 1+1+34+N framework seeks to bring together government, local destinations, businesses and other organisations around a common digital infrastructure.
If successfully implemented, it could help Vietnam move towards a smarter model of tourism management, support sustainable destination development and provide businesses with better tools to compete in an increasingly digital global tourism market.
Most importantly, it has the potential to place the traveller at the centre of Vietnam's digital tourism future, using data and technology not simply to attract more visitors, but to create better experiences for those who choose Vietnam as their destination.
Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
Website: https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/enAddress: 80 Quan Su Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
For tourism statistics, destination information, tourism policy and official information about Vietnam's tourism development, visit the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam
Website: https://english.bvhttdl.gov.vn/Address: 51 Ngo Quyen Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, Vietnam
The Ministry is responsible for national policy and development across culture, sports and tourism, including the digital transformation of Vietnam's tourism sector.
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