India steps up tourism promotion at VITM 2025

The India Tourism pavilion was officially inaugurated on April 10 by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy, vice chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Ha Van Sieu and ambassador of India to Vietnam. The launch ceremony featured traditional Indian music and dance performed by students and teachers from the Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre in Hanoi, underscoring the strong cultural connection between the two countries.

India’s participation at this year’s VITM is part of broader efforts to deepen tourism cooperation with Vietnam.

On the opening day, the Indian pavilion recorded strong footfall, reflecting heightened interest from local travel businesses, media representatives, and the public. Alongside live cultural showcases, the pavilion is offering a wide range of promotional materials, including destination videos, brochures, and digital content in both English and Vietnamese.

A captivating classical Indian dance performance showcased at the event. Photo: Embassy of India in Vietnam

A number of Indian travel agencies are also participating in the event, holding discussions with Vietnamese counterparts to explore new partnerships and expand tourism offerings. These business-to-business engagements are expected to contribute to the development of tailored travel packages and joint initiatives that meet the evolving preferences of Vietnamese tourists.

In support of these efforts, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam has been actively organising familiarisation trips for local tour operators to key destinations across India, while also ramping up outreach activities via digital platforms and targeted campaigns in the Vietnamese language. These efforts are designed to raise awareness about India’s diverse tourism portfolio, ranging from heritage and wellness tourism to spiritual and off-the-beaten-track experiences.

Enhanced air connectivity is playing a key role in facilitating this growth. Direct flights now link seven major Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad) with Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Danang.

This network has not only made travel more accessible but has also encouraged Vietnamese tour operators to expand their India product offerings to include emerging destinations.

Ambassador of India to Vietnam (fifth from left) warmly welcomes guests at the Indian pavilion. Photo: Embassy of India in Vietnam

According to VNAT, India was the eighth-largest source market for inbound tourism to Vietnam in 2024, with approximately 500,000 Indian arrivals. Conversely, around 55,000 Vietnamese tourists travelled to India last year, marking a significant on-year increase and signalling growing interest in India’s tourism potential.

With robust people-to-people ties and increasing cultural engagement, both governments and industry stakeholders are optimistic that closer tourism cooperation will reinforce mutual understanding and contribute to the broader India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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