The VITM 2019 takes place at the International Exhibition Centre, 91 Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi.

This year’s mart is themed “Green Tourism” in response to the UN’s global sustainable development goal by 2030.

Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien said that last year Vietnamese tourism saw impressive growth, welcoming 15.5 million foreign visitors, 80 million domestic travelers, and earning 26.6 billion USD in revenue.

This year Vietnam hopes to receive at least 18 million foreign visitors, 85 million domestic tourists, and earn revenue of more than 30 billion USD.

Minister Thien said: “Vietnam’s tourism sector needs to continue to reform, be more dynamic and creative, make the most of the achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and fully tap the competitive advantages, values, and characteristics of each region to meet rising tourism demands and make Vietnam one of the region’s top tourist destinations.”

“Vietnam International Travel Mart’s theme reflects the development trend of the tourism industry. The fair is an ideal venue for domestic and foreign travel companies to form partnerships and create new business opportunities,” Thien added.

Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien addresses the opening ceremony.

The tourism fair, which will run through Saturday, has 500 booths showcasing tourism products and destinations, bringing together travel companies from 25 countries and territories. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Peru are attending the mart for the first time.

This year’s event is promoting ecological, community-based, and agricultural tourism products, environmental protection, and climate change adaptation initiatives.

There will be a forum on green tourism, a ceremony to honor the outstanding individuals and tourism firms of 2018, and a seminar on Vietnamese tourism during the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

More than 40,000 discounted air tickets and 18,000 tour packages will be sold at the mart.