Tourism development in Vietnam

The recent decision by the United States to lift the 20-year-old trade embargo is a great boost to Vietnam's economic development in general and to its tourism in particular. The emergence of mass tourism in the 1960s bypassed Vietnam, and its neighbors Laos and Cambodia, because of war and political and economic constraints. Vietnam is therefore not ready for a large influx of tourists. Specifically, it lacks a suitable infrastructure, accommodation facilities, an appropriate tourism organization and skilled staff. Vietnam's new economic policy of ‘openness’ ( doi moi) will facilitate tourism development. This report examines Vietnam's tourism resources, market potential, and the need for government to assume the broad responsibility and policies that should optimize economic benefits whilst preserving the country's social, cultural and ecological features.