Only 5,000 Iranians Among Vietnam’s 20m Foreign Tourists

TEHRAN (Iran News) Speaking in an interview with ILNA, Nguyen Luong Ngoc, the newly appointed ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Iran, outlined the latest tourism statistics and programs in Vietnam and highlighted his country’s efforts to expand tourism cooperation with Iran, while proposing practical solutions to strengthen ties.

Iran and Vietnam began efforts to open tourism routes between the two nations more than a decade ago. However, despite mutual interest by both governments in launching direct flights, such connections have yet to be established, increasing travel costs and limiting tourist flows between the two countries.

Tourism exchanges between Iran and Vietnam face several challenges, the most significant being the absence of direct flights, which makes access difficult for travelers. Limited mutual cultural awareness has also resulted in Vietnamese people largely associating Iran with oil or political issues, while Iranians generally lack in-depth knowledge of Vietnam’s tourism destinations.

Nguyen Luong Ngoc emphasized the lack of cultural familiarity between the two nations, saying that unfortunately, the Vietnamese people have limited knowledge of Iran. He noted that addressing this issue should be a priority, adding that Iran’s embassy in Vietnam could play a greater role in promoting Iran’s tourism attractions.

The Vietnamese ambassador reported strong growth in inbound tourism to Vietnam in recent years, stating that tourism is one of Vietnam’s top national priorities. Over the past decade, Vietnam has consistently recorded increases in foreign tourist arrivals. He noted that more than 20 million foreign tourists visited Vietnam last year—surpassing the number of inbound tourists to countries such as China, Australia, and the United States.

“Out of these 20 million foreign tourists, only about 5,000 were Iranians,” he said, expressing hope that this figure would rise through the expansion of direct flights and closer cooperation between travel agencies in both countries.

Ngoc said there are no precise statistics on the number of Vietnamese tourists traveling to Iran, but expressed optimism that the figure would grow. He described Iran as a highly attractive destination for Vietnamese travelers, citing its mountains, deserts, UNESCO-listed historical and cultural sites, and rich civilization.

Referring to cultural initiatives aimed at introducing Iran to the Vietnamese public, the ambassador said Iran recently held a cultural and artistic festival in Hanoi, where performances by Iranian traditional music groups were warmly received and broadcast on Vietnamese television.

“Today, Vietnamese children read One Thousand and One Nights and are fascinated by it,” he said. “They want to see Iran and its ancient civilization firsthand. In the minds of Vietnamese people, Iran is a land of wonders, rich in history and culture.”

The ambassador said the Vietnamese embassy in Tehran has an extensive cultural agenda. In the coming months, celebrations marking the Vietnamese New Year and Nowruz will be held, which, through journalist exchanges and cooperation with travel agencies, can help enhance mutual understanding.

He added that visits by Vietnamese artists to Iran—including musicians and puppet theater performers—will continue in the future.

Discussing Vietnam’s long-term tourism outlook, Ngoc said the country aims to become a regional tourism hub by expanding airport capacity and tourism infrastructure. A new airport in southern Vietnam will have the capacity to handle up to 100 million passengers annually, while a similar project is under construction in Hanoi.

“Our goal is to increase the number of Iranian tourists to Vietnam from the current 5,000 to between 20,000 and 30,000 through the expansion of direct flights and infrastructure,” he said, adding that Vietnam also hopes more Vietnamese tourists will choose Iran as an international travel destination.

Ngoc outlined several practical measures to boost tourism cooperation, including B2B and B2G meetings, collaboration between Iranian and Vietnamese travel agencies, journalist exchanges, familiarization trips, and cultural programs hosted by the two embassies.

He stressed that cooperation with airlines, the launch of direct flights, and the promotion of cultural and tourism capacities in both countries would strengthen tourism ties, encourage investment, and bring the two nations closer together.

Vietnam is home to around 40 historical and natural sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. Ha Long Bay, with its breathtaking natural scenery, is among the country’s most iconic attractions. Other highlights include the ancient landscapes of Ninh Binh with its rivers, caves, and temples; historic churches and the 400-year-old Ho Chi Minh City Post Office from the French colonial era; the vibrant capital Hanoi; the historic city of Hoi An, renowned for its handicrafts and cultural heritage; the “Mountain of a Thousand Temples”; the Vietnam War Museum; and the coastal city of Da Nang, Vietnam’s tourism capital, known for its beachfront hotels and seafood restaurants.

Iran, meanwhile, has become somewhat more familiar to Vietnamese audiences in recent years. Previous Vietnamese ambassadors in Iran worked to send journalists and travel influencers to Vietnam in hopes of paving the way for direct flights—efforts that have so far remained unsuccessful.

Nevertheless, cultural programs organized by Iran in Vietnam have helped introduce Iranian culture to the Vietnamese public. As the current Vietnamese ambassador in Tehran told ILNA, these efforts have led Vietnamese children to read One Thousand and One Nights and view Iran as a mysterious and fascinating destination rich in travel appeal.