On April 8 in Hanoi, the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO Vietnam) in coordination with the Gyeonggi Tourism Promotion Bureau (GTO) organized the "Korea Travel Mart 2026" event and the Award Ceremony of the "Korea Tourism Product Design 2026" contest.
The event with the participation of more than 160 delegates from 2 countries Vietnam - Korea and is an important promotional activity in the context of strong growth in bilateral tourism demand.
Accordingly, as of the end of March 2026, the number of Vietnamese tourists to Korea reached more than 167,000, an increase of 29.6% compared to the same period in 2025 and an increase of 53% compared to 2019. In the opposite direction, Korea continues to be one of Vietnam's largest international tourist markets, contributing to maintaining the growth momentum of bilateral tourism.
Notably, the policy of issuing multiple entry visas with a validity of 10 years for Vietnamese citizens in major cities has been implemented since the end of March 2026 with the expectation of creating a boost for the market. This policy not only creates favorable conditions for self-sufficient tourists (FIT) but also promotes the trend of returning to destinations many times.
Speaking at the event, Ms. Park Eun Jung - Chief Representative of KTO Vietnam emphasized: "Korea Travel Mart 2026 is an important bridge to help businesses of the two countries strengthen cooperation, while opening up opportunities to develop innovative tourism products that suit new trends".
According to Ms. Park Eun Jung, with diverse support policies and promotion activities, South Korea expects to continue to strongly promote tourism exchanges between the two countries in the coming time.
Agreeing with this view, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai - Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism highly appreciated the significance of the event in promoting bilateral cooperation. Ms. Hoa Mai said that after more than 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations, tourism has become an important bridge to help strengthen understanding and connection between the people of Vietnam and Korea.
2026 opens a new phase with many breakthrough opportunities, Vietnam - Korea still have great potential for cooperation in product lines such as resorts, culture, cuisine, health care and MICE tourism, meeting the increasingly diverse and personalized experience trend of tourists.
Korea Travel Mart 2026 gathers more than 20 units from Korea, including local tourism promotion agencies, travel businesses, technology startups and art performance units.
On the Vietnamese side, the event was attended by representatives of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Hanoi Department of Tourism, Vietnam Tourism Association, Vietnam MICE Tourism Branch, along with Vietnamese - Korean airlines and more than 50 travel businesses and press agencies.
The highlight of the program is the direct connection between businesses of the two countries, and at the same time introduces the tourism ecosystem in the western Gyeonggi province - a model linking 7 cities including: Gimpo, Pyeongtaek, Hwaseong, Ansan, Siheung, Gwangmyeong and Bucheon.
This area is oriented to develop into a "unified tourism belt" with many unique products such as Jebu Island, Geobuk Island, Sangdong Lake Park, Laveniche neighborhood or Gwangmyeong cave, combined with preferential policies for international tourists.
Within the framework of the event, KTO Vietnam also announced its tourism promotion strategy for 2026 with 3 main orientations including: Strengthening B2B and B2C activities, expanding the self-sufficient tourist market and developing themed products.
Many major programs are expected to be implemented such as: Korea Culture & Tourism Festival in Hanoi, K-tourism B2B Roadshow in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, and the "All-in-K" campaign to increase experiences and incentives for tourists.
In parallel with the above promotion activities, the Award Ceremony of the "Korea Tourism Product Design 2026" contest also recorded more than 40 entries from Vietnamese travel businesses.
Contested products focus on many experiences such as cultural tourism, following the Hallyu wave, inter-route journeys and high-class tourism. Prominent are tours experiencing Templestay accommodation combined with visiting Busan - Gyeongju, journeys to explore Hallyu culture in Seoul, or high-class tours using dormitory trains connecting many destinations.
According to the assessment from the organizers, the contest not only encourages creativity but also contributes to improving product quality and diversifying experiences for Vietnamese tourists when coming to Korea.
With the active participation of management agencies and businesses of the two countries, "Korea Travel Mart 2026" is expected to continue to expand cooperation opportunities, promote customer exchange and create a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam - Korea tourism in the coming time.
