By Peter Semone
In early April, I will participate in a three city – Hanoi, Danang and Saigon – tourism lecture series being organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). The seminar will focus on European Source Markets, with tourism experts from France and the countries of Benelux and Scandinavia presenting. In preparation for the event, I’ve prepared a diagnostic of Vietnam Tourism. Hopefully, it will stimulate some real candor in the dialogue about how Vietnam should navigate its future course in tourism in a balanced and sustainable direction.
There should be more focus on the My-Son sanctuary world heritage site as well as on the Phong Nha Caves in Central Vietnam. Also, tourists should be more sensibilisised towards minorities in Vietnam and poverty reduction. Dien Bien Phu will attract more Thai visitors in the future, because the place is the mythical homeland of all the T’ai peoples.