Promoting tourism cooperation between Viet Nam and India was one of the key issues highlighted at the Indian Business Outreach and Lunar New Year (Tet) Reception recently held in Ha Noi. The event was jointly organised by the Indian Business Association in Ha Noi (INCHAM Ha Noi) and the Embassy of India in Viet Nam.

Speaking at the event, Director General of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh remarked that India is currently one of the world’s fastest-growing outbound tourism markets, driven by its large population, rapidly expanding middle class, and rising demand for international travel. India has become an increasingly important market for many Asian destinations, including Viet Nam.

In recent years, travel between Viet Nam and India has become more convenient, particularly as direct air connectivity has expanded. At present, more than 100 direct flights operate each week linking major destinations in the two countries. In addition, e-visa policies on both sides have facilitated travel and boosted two-way tourist flows.

Accordingly, Indian tourists tend to travel in groups and with family members, and often stay for longer periods. They seek deeper experiences associated with cultural exploration, wellness, and the organisation of special events. These characteristics align well with Viet Nam’s strengths, including cultural and heritage tourism, family tourism, MICE tourism, and wedding tourism. As such, the Indian market shows strong long-term potential for Viet Nam’s tourism sector.

According to Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh, the Indian Business Outreach and Tet Reception serves as an important forum to strengthen dialogue, enhance connectivity, and open up new cooperation opportunities between Vietnamese and Indian business communities in 2026.

The event also provided an opportunity to celebrate friendship, trust, and expanding cooperation between the two countries, further strengthening Viet Nam–India business ties and encouraging new partnerships and investments.

Navendu Kumar, President of the Indian Business Association in Ha Noi, said Viet Nam plays a strategic role in India’s “Act East” policy and its Indo-Pacific vision. As a gateway to Southeast Asia, Viet Nam offers new opportunities for trade, investment, and regional supply-chain integration.

In recent years, bilateral economic cooperation has reached notable milestones, with India becoming one of Viet Nam’s important trade partners. Notably, tourism has recorded strong growth, with nearly 750,000 Indian visitors travelling to Viet Nam in 2025. This reflects stronger people-to-people connectivity and growing confidence among Indian tourists in Viet Nam as a destination.

In the other direction, Viet Nam has also emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets for tourism to India after the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2019–2024, Viet Nam was among the four fastest-growing inbound international visitor markets for India. This two-way growth points to a balanced, substantive, and mutually beneficial partnership between the two countries.