Vietnam targets Mongolia as promising market for tourism

These efforts aim not only to facilitate two-way trade and tourism but also to tap into the potential of high-spending Mongolian tourists with long stays, particularly at renowned beach destinations like Phu Quoc and Nha Trang.

A potential market

Batjargal Munkhmandakh, who recently took a long holiday in Vietnam, said Vietnam, rich in cultural heritage, is a significant source of inspiration for Mongolians. Other factors attracting tourists to the Southeast Asian nation include convenient visa regulations, affordable prices, and family-oriented resorts and services that cater to both short visits and relaxing holidays.

With the support of travel company Adavigo, Munkhmandakh travelled the length and breadth of Vietnam in an attempt to discover the country’s land, people and culture.

“I have had the opportunity to travel to more than 20 countries and over 100 cities worldwide. Vietnam’s tourism has flourished in recent years, offering diverse experiences in places like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Ninh Binh, and Phu Quoc. Particularly, Phu Quoc Island has become a popular destination for Mongolian tourists over the past few years. Each destination offers unique experiences that stimulate the senses and deepen the understanding of the rich cultural heritage of each region,” said the tourist.

As of November 2024, approximately 25,000 Mongolian tourists visited Vietnam, close to the 26,000 visitors recorded for the entire year of 2023. Notably, December 2024 marked several milestones in tourism cooperation between Mongolia and Vietnam, including the inauguration of first commercial flights from Ulaanbaatar to Ho Chi Minh City and direct flights from Ulaanbaatar to Nha Trang and Phu Quoc.

Addressing the launch ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia Nguyen Tuan Thanh stated that the direct flights act as "bridges" connecting the two nations, thereby fostering the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Mongolia.

These routes not only reduce geographical distance and travel time but also facilitate trade and tourism activities, as well as cultural, educational, and people-to-people exchanges, said the diplomat.

The Ulaanbaatar–Ho Chi Minh City and Ulaanbaatar–Phu Quoc flights are currently operating at a frequency of 2 to 3 flights per week, while the Ulaanbaatar–Nha Trang route operates once a week. In addition, the Ulaanbaatar–Hanoi route is planned to meet the growing demand of tourists from both nations. These flights have enabled many hotels and tourism businesses to welcome Mongolian tourists with high spending power, who typically stay for extended periods ranging from 7 to 14 days in destinations like Phu Quoc or Nha Trang.

“Mongolian tourists are fond of the sea and relaxation, have shopping needs, and are willing to spend. They often travel in multi-generational family groups. Recognizing these preferences, hotels like Melia Vinpearl Phu Quoc and Melia Vinpearl Nha Trang Empire have recently welcomed numerous Mongolian holidaymakers. The high spending and extended stays of this tourist segment significantly contribute to hotel revenue and local tourism services. This market holds great potential for the tourism industry in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Vietnam as a whole,” said Nguyen Van Phong, regional sales director of Melia Vinpearl, in a recent interview granted to VOV.VN.

Promotion efforts going on

Munkhmandakh revealed that over 15% of Mongolia’s population prefers outbound tours that align well with Vietnam’s tourism development vision.

“Vietnam and Mongolia share long-standing diplomatic relations, and they are expected to grow stronger through bilateral cooperation. I believe this cooperation will be further enhanced through tourism exchanges between the two countries,” she said.

According to the Embassy of Vietnam in Mongolia and various businesses, Vietnamese destinations are becoming increasingly popular among Mongolian tourists. Mongolian travel partners regard Ho Chi Minh City as one of Asia’s leading hubs for economy, tourism, and industry, while Nha Trang and Phu Quoc are recognized as renowned tourist cities in Vietnam.

Vietnam’s rapidly advancing tourism industry is regarded as an appealing destination, often referred to as a ‘super destination’ in Southeast Asia, a favorite among Mongolian tourists. The opening of direct flights is expected to significantly boost economic and tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Mongolia.

In recent years, the Embassy has actively promoted Vietnam’s tourism, its landscapes, culture, and heritage through various initiatives. These include participating in tourism and culinary fairs, organizing exhibitions of paintings and photographs about Vietnam, and showcasing promotional videos during significant embassy-organized events such as National Day celebrations and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Mongolia.

To sustain direct flight routes and facilitate tourism and trade, Ambassador Thanh has met with ambassadors of Russia and India to explore passenger flow from Russia through Mongolia to Vietnam and from India through Vietnam to Mongolia. These efforts have received positive responses from the Russian and Indian ambassadors.

“The Embassy has hosted trilateral discussions with the Indian ambassador and Aero Mongolia airlines. It has also facilitated partnerships between Mongolian airlines like MIAT Mongolian Airlines and Aero Mongolia and Vietnamese airlines to share passenger flows and maintain direct flights between the two countries,” said the ambassador.

He also added that the Embassy has played an active role in supporting the signing of a visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic, official, and ordinary passports between Vietnam and Mongolia that was effective in March 2024. It has actively connected and supported Vietnamese and Mongolian businesses, including many travel companies, in negotiating and signing agreements for bilateral tourist exchanges.