Hanoi - Vietnam
Vietnam is changing the way it measures its tourism success. Instead of being satisfied with the number of arrivals, its new plan addresses a more important question: How long do tourists stay? How much does he spend during his trip? This is why the country is pushing products such as night tourism, golf, entertainment, food and wellness into the heart of its new tourism strategy.

Golf becomes an integrated tourism industry

On September 15, 2026, the Vietnam National Tourism Authority revealed a plan to strengthen the golf tourism system, by linking courses with airlines, hotels, resorts, travel and transportation companies, and tourism services, so that a golf tour is not a single activity, but rather part of an integrated trip that prompts the visitor to stay for a longer period and explore more than one destination.

Officials: Golf is no longer just a sport

Nguyen Trung Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority, said that golf is no longer just a sport, but rather a high-value tourism product that can be linked to accommodation, entertainment, transportation, food, healthcare and cultural experiences in multiple regions of the country.

When night falls.. new spending begins
In the same direction, Vietnam is working to expand night tourism, including restaurants, shows, markets, river cruises, cultural experiences and evening entertainment. The goal is to add new hours to the tourist's day during which they can consume and spend, instead of the tourism activity ending with sunset.

The numbers explain the transformation

Vietnam received about 16 million international tourists during the first eight months of 2026, an increase of approximately 15% annually, in addition to 113 million domestic tourist trips. In the longer term, the country aims to receive 45 to 50 million international visitors by 2030, but the new strategy stresses that what is most important is not the number alone, but rather spending, length of stay, and repeated visits.

What does this mean for Arab tourists?
For the Arab traveler, this policy may mean the emergence of more integrated packages that combine luxury resorts, golf, dining, shopping and nightlife in one trip, which may make destinations such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang more able to compete with established Asian destinations for the high-spending tourist segment. This transformation also opens investment opportunities for Arab investors in the sectors of hospitality, stadiums, night entertainment and related services, especially with Vietnam’s move to link these sectors into a single system targeting visitors looking for an integrated experience and not just a passing destination.