Initially, Viet Nam had planned to lure 8 million foreign arrivals and the target was achieved in the first ten months, prompting the Southeast Asian nation to set new target of 12.5-13 million.

The country served 108 million domestic tourists, Pham added.

Total revenue from tourism was projected to reach VND672 trillion (US$28 billion), 3.38 percent higher than the revised goal.

This year, the VNAT was awarded the title "Asia's Leading Tourism Management Agency" for the fourth time. Viet Nam was honoured by the World Travel Awards as the world's leading heritage destination, while many destinations and tourism businesses received other prestigious award categories.

The VNAT proposed strengthening management at tourist destinations, preserving and promoting natural and cultural values for sustainable tourism development. 

Tourism sites must ensure security and safety for tourists, pay special attention to environmental sanitation and food hygiene, while encouraging the participation of local people and businesses in building a cultural, civilised, friendly and hospitable tourism environment to make every citizen a tourism ambassador.

The authority also proposed promoting tourism linkage among localities in which the VNAT, as the national tourism agency, takes the orientation role and big tourism hubs such as Ha Noi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Thua Thien Hue and Khanh Hoa would act as leaders in creating regional tourism growth drivers and making “one tour, multiple destinations”.