Vietnam Heritage Tourism Market Size, Share, Trends and Forecast by Type, Booking Channel, End User, and Region, 2026-2034

Vietnam Heritage Tourism Market Overview:

The Vietnam heritage tourism market size reached USD 2,517.72 Million in 2025. The market is projected to reach USD 3,398.36 Million by 2034, exhibiting a growth rate (CAGR) of 3.39% during 2026-2034. The market is driven by UNESCO heritage recognitions and strengthened government policies through the National Target Program for Cultural Development and revised Cultural Heritage Law, digital transformation initiatives enhancing visitor experiences through augmented reality and 3D technology at heritage sites, and the expansion of sustainable community-based tourism programs in ancient villages and heritage areas. These developments are significantly expanding the Vietnam heritage tourism market share.

Vietnam Heritage Tourism Market Trends:

UNESCO Heritage Recognition and Government Policy Support

Vietnam's heritage tourism sector is experiencing substantial momentum from continued UNESCO recognitions and comprehensive government support frameworks. The country achieved a significant milestone when the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son – Kiep Bac Complex was inscribed as Vietnam's ninth UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in July 2025, marking the nation's second inter-provincial heritage designation and reinforcing its position as Southeast Asia's second-largest holder of UNESCO sites. This recognition, alongside two additional UNESCO certifications in 2025, including the Nine Dynastic Urns at the Imperial Citadel of Hue, added to the Memory of the World Programme and the Ba Chua Xu Festival, inscribed on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list, demonstrates Vietnam's systematic approach to heritage preservation. The Vietnamese government has institutionalized this commitment through landmark legislation, with the National Assembly approving the National Target Program for Cultural Development spanning 2025 to 2035, focusing on enhancing cultural policies that strengthen national identity and drive modern Vietnamese culture development. Additionally, the revised Cultural Heritage Law passed in 2025 provides a strengthened legal framework for safeguarding historical and cultural assets, ensuring sustainable tourism growth while protecting heritage integrity. These policy measures are complemented by strategic tourism infrastructure investments and visa facilitation programs, with Vietnam extending visa-free stays to 45 days for citizens from 25 countries and implementing user-friendly e-visa portals. The government's Tourism Development Stimulus Program for 2025 further supports heritage sites through entrance fee exemptions and reductions at historical relics and scenic spots, alongside service discounts of up to fifty percent. These coordinated initiatives are transforming Vietnam's heritage resources into competitive tourism products that attract both domestic and international visitors, positioning heritage tourism as a key economic driver contributing significantly to the national GDP target of six to eight percent from tourism by 2025.

Digital Transformation Enhancing Heritage Tourism Experiences

The Vietnam heritage tourism market growth is being propelled by aggressive digital transformation initiatives that are revolutionizing how visitors interact with cultural and historical sites. Heritage institutions across Vietnam are implementing cutting-edge technologies, including augmented reality, virtual reality, three-dimensional modeling, and artificial intelligence, to create immersive and engaging experiences for modern travelers. In 2025, the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre collaborated with Phygital Labs to install seventeen digital check-in points around the Imperial City, utilizing augmented reality technology to allow visitors to visualize lost architectural marvels and engage emotionally with imperial history in unprecedented ways. The groundbreaking Finding the Lost Imperial Palace project exemplifies how AR technology reconstructs historical structures, providing culturally rich experiences that blend traditional heritage with innovative digital storytelling. Major museums in Ho Chi Minh City have completed comprehensive digitalization projects using advanced graphics technology, enabling visitors worldwide to experience virtual museums with three-dimensional spaces and real-life interactions. The War Remnants Museum website recorded over three point one million visits in 2025, representing a thirteenfold increase that clearly demonstrates the appeal of digital heritage experiences when geographical barriers are eliminated. Hanoi's heritage sites, including the Temple of Literature and the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, have adopted electronic ticketing systems, automated audio guides in multiple languages, and interactive displays that improve both management efficiency and visitor convenience. The capital city aims for eighty to ninety percent of destinations to implement e-ticketing and online booking by 2030, demonstrating strong determination toward comprehensive digital transformation. Da Nang has pioneered digital tourism passports, including the Da Nang Heritage Tour experience passport, allowing tourists to register online, collect digital stamps at attractions, and redeem rewards through an integrated platform. The integration of artificial intelligence for personalized travel itineraries, three-hundred-sixty-degree virtual tours of UNESCO sites like Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, and digital storytelling at historical landmarks such as Quang Tri Citadel are making heritage more accessible to younger generations while preserving authenticity. These technological applications are not replacing human interaction but rather enhancing it, with tour guides evolving into living storytellers who provide depth and personal perspectives alongside virtual realities, creating fascinating and fulfilling tourism experiences that drive repeat visitation and extended stays.

Sustainable and Community-Based Heritage Tourism Expansion

Vietnam is experiencing significant growth in sustainable and community-based heritage tourism programs that connect travelers with authentic local experiences while supporting rural economies and preserving traditional cultures. Heritage destinations across the country are developing eco-tourism initiatives that allow visitors to immerse themselves in village life, participate in traditional crafts, and engage with local communities in meaningful ways. Hue City exemplifies this trend, recording approximately one point twenty-two million visitor arrivals in early 2025, representing a twenty-six percent increase over the same period in 2025, driven substantially by community-based eco-tourism and agri-tourism offerings in rural localities with previously untapped potential. Notable programs include cycling tours to the ancient village of Phuoc Tich, visits to traditional garden houses in the Kim Long and Thuy Bieu areas, explorations around Thanh Toan's historic tiled bridge, and tours of scenic fishing villages surrounding Tam Giang and Cau Hai lagoon, where visitors participate in authentic activities such as gardening, cooking traditional Vietnamese dishes, and joining environmental awareness tours. Similar community tourism initiatives have emerged across Vietnam, with villages such as Nghia Do in Lao Cai, Lac and Van villages in Hoa Binh, Sin Suoi Ho village in Lai Chau, Luot village in Son La, and Lo Lo Chai village in Ha Giang becoming prominent destinations that not only attract domestic and international tourists but also contribute to spreading community cultural values. These programs emphasize sustainable practices that protect both breathtaking landscapes and timeless traditions while channeling tourism revenue and employment gains directly to local communities rather than only gateway cities. The Vietnamese government's nationwide tourism blueprint, recently ratified by the Prime Minister, places heritage at its core with a balanced agenda to develop one-of-a-kind competitive tourism offerings while ensuring environmental protection and community benefit. Visit Vietnam Year 2025, hosted by Hue under the theme Ancient Capital New Horizons showcases creative new tours and experiential routes associated with local crafts, culinary tourism, cultural exploration, and ecological attractions that promote green transformation through reduced paper use, optimized resources, and improved tourist experiences. International recognition of these efforts is evident, with Vietnam being honored as World's Leading Heritage Destination for the fifth time and Asia's Leading Heritage Destination, consolidating the nation's reputation as a premier destination that successfully balances heritage conservation with sustainable tourism development and community empowerment.

Vietnam Heritage Tourism Market Segmentation:

IMARC Group provides an analysis of the key trends in each segment of the market, along with forecasts at the country and regional levels for 2026-2034. Our report has categorized the market based on type, booking channel, and end user.

Type Insights:

• Cultural Heritage
• Natural Heritage
• Intangible Heritage

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the type. This includes cultural heritage, natural heritage, and intangible heritage.

Booking Channel Insights:

• Online
• Offline

A detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the booking channel have also been provided in the report. This includes online and offline.

End User Insights:

• 30 and Under
• 31 to 50
• 51 to 70
• 71 and Above

The report has provided a detailed breakup and analysis of the market based on the end user. This includes 30 and under, 31 to 50, 51 to 70, and 71 and above.

Regional Insights:

• Northern Vietnam
• Central Vietnam
• Southern Vietnam

The report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of all the major regional markets, which include Northern Vietnam, Central Vietnam, and Southern Vietnam.

Competitive Landscape:

The market research report has also provided a comprehensive analysis of the competitive landscape. Competitive analysis such as market structure, key player positioning, top winning strategies, competitive dashboard, and company evaluation quadrant has been covered in the report. Also, detailed profiles of all major companies have been provided.

Vietnam Heritage Tourism Market News:

• May 2025: Hilton announced the opening of the first fourteen Tru by Hilton properties in Vietnam in partnership with ROX Group, marking the brand's debut in Asia Pacific. The properties are strategically located in heritage destinations, including Tru by Hilton Hanoi Station with easy access to the Old Quarter and historic landmarks, and Tru by Hilton Ha Long Hon Gai City Centre offering views of Ha Long Bay UNESCO site. The rollout builds upon Hilton's growth momentum in Vietnam's heritage tourism market.

Vietnam Heritage Tourism Market Report Coverage:

Key Questions Answered in This Report:

• How has the Vietnam heritage tourism market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years?
• What is the breakup of the Vietnam heritage tourism market on the basis of type?
• What is the breakup of the Vietnam heritage tourism market on the basis of booking channel?
• What is the breakup of the Vietnam heritage tourism market on the basis of end user?
• What is the breakup of the Vietnam heritage tourism market on the basis of region?
• What are the various stages in the value chain of the Vietnam heritage tourism market?
• What are the key driving factors and challenges in the Vietnam heritage tourism market?
• What is the structure of the Vietnam heritage tourism market and who are the key players?
• What is the degree of competition in the Vietnam heritage tourism market?

Key Benefits for Stakeholders:

• IMARC's industry report offers a comprehensive quantitative analysis of various market segments, historical and current market trends, market forecasts, and dynamics of the Vietnam heritage tourism market from 2020-2034.
• The research report provides the latest information on the market drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the Vietnam heritage tourism market.
• Porter's five forces analysis assist stakeholders in assessing the impact of new entrants, competitive rivalry, supplier power, buyer power, and the threat of substitution. It helps stakeholders to analyze the level of competition within the Vietnam heritage tourism industry and its attractiveness.
• Competitive landscape allows stakeholders to understand their competitive environment and provides an insight into the current positions of key players in the market.