On September 4, within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair (ITE HCMC) 2025, the High-level Tourism Forum was held with the theme of Shaping the future of the tourism industry: Towards digital transformation and green transformation.
According to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, the forum creates opportunities for ministries, branches, localities, domestic and international organizations and enterprises to exchange, share experiences, learn, connect and cooperate, propose creative solutions and ideas to promote digital transformation and green transformation. Thereby, creating a sustainable and smart future for the tourism industry, adapting to global trends.
Speaking at the forum, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh said that with its central location in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has many different potentials, outstanding opportunities, and competitive advantages for tourism development.
For Ho Chi Minh City, after expanding administrative boundaries, the city continues to affirm its position as the largest economic and tourism center in the country, converging outstanding potentials in economy, culture, services and international connectivity.
The city not only has an open, dynamic and creative urban space, but also has diversity in cultural and historical heritage, Can Gio mangrove forest ecosystem, fruit garden, river landscape, vibrant life and high-class service ecosystem. Thereby, creating a unique attraction to make Ho Chi Minh City a gateway to welcome international visitors and the starting point for many journeys to explore Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City is also an ideal development environment for new tourism models such as MICE tourism - a model combining tourism with conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and rewards - which is a high-end tourism trend, bringing great economic value and affirming the position of a smart tourism destination, leading the trend of developing regional and national tourism.
Those potentials and advantages create momentum for Vietnam to become an ideal convergence point, connecting key global tourism markets.
Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh emphasized that digital transformation and green transformation are not two separate parallel roads, but are the "golden key", two " strategic pillars" accompanying and supplementing, creating a combined strength to create sustainable, modern, humane and unique tourism development.
Regarding the orientation for the rapid and sustainable development of the tourism industry in the coming time, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh said that it is necessary to continue to improve institutions, innovate thinking on tourism development; strengthen action and expand international cooperation towards digital transformation, green transformation; commit and act globally.
In addition, promote regional linkages and industry linkages. In particular, developing sustainable tourism value chains, linking tourism with agriculture, culture, environment and science and technology. From there, forming typical, unique products with high depth and competitiveness.
At the same time, strongly invest in human resource development; support the business community, including small and medium enterprises.
