Tourism Malaysia and Vietnam Airlines Sign MOU to Boost Bilateral Tourism  04:55, 03/08/2025

The signing ceremony was graced by several dignitaries, including YB Dato’ Sri Tiong King Sing - Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia; H.E. Dato’ Tan Yang Thai - Ambassador of Malaysia to Vietnam and  Mr. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, along with their delegation. Representing Vietnam were ⁠H.E. Mr. Ho An Phong – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam; Mr. Dang Ngoc Hoa - Chairman of Board of Directors of Vietnam Airlines;  Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai – Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism; Mr. Dang Anh Tuan - Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines and members of the Board of Directors; and senior officials from various departments.

At the ceremony, representatives from both sides delivered speeches and exchanged commemorative gifts, symbolizing the spirit of goodwill and long-term collaboration between the two nations. Director General of Tourism Malaysia and Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines each took the floor to affirm the strategic significance of the partnership between Vietnam Airlines and Tourism Malaysia in advancing bilateral tourism. The exchange of gifts underscored mutual trust, close ties, and a shared commitment to sustainable development.

“This event marks more than just a formal agreement. It indicates a strategic and forward-looking partnership between two key players in the ASEAN tourism landscape, united by a common goal: to bring our nations and our people closer together through travel, culture, and mutual growth.” said Mr. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy – Director General of Tourism Malaysia.

Mr. Dang Anh Tuan – Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines expressed his delight in receiving the Malaysian delegation and underscored the MoC’s importance in advancing aviation and tourism cooperation: ”Building on our successful collaboration, we are confident that this newly signed MoC will open the door to even stronger and more impactful cooperation between Vietnam Airlines and Tourism Malaysia. Through joint marketing campaigns, market research, and travel promotions, we aim to make it easier and more affordable for Vietnamese travelers to explore Malaysia—and equally, to inspire more Malaysian visitors to experience the vibrant culture and unique charm of Vietnam, a nation rich in heritage and undergoing exciting transformation.”

Following the speeches, the official signing of the MoC was conducted Mr. Dang Anh Tuan and Mr. Datuk Manoharan Periasamy represented the two parties as signatories.

The MoC marks a significant milestone in strengthening tourism ties between Vietnam and Malaysia, paving the way for joint marketing efforts and expanded growth opportunities. Both parties will collaborate to promote travel between the two countries via Vietnam Airlines, with a focus on shared priorities and sustainable tourism development. This partnership supports Malaysia’s tourism promotion strategies and enhances the link between a leading Vietnamese carrier and one of Southeast Asia’s premier destinations.

In the coming months, Vietnam Airlines and Tourism Malaysia will roll out a range of joint initiatives, such as co-branded marketing campaigns, familiarisation trips, event collaborations, communications support, and information exchange. A key focus will be to position Malaysia as a premier destination for both leisure and business travel, with Vietnam Airlines promoted as the preferred carrier for Vietnamese travellers.

As of July 2025, there are 164 direct weekly flights between Vietnam and Malaysia, offering a total seat capacity of 29,734. These routes connect major Vietnamese cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc and Nha Trang with Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu. The routes are served by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, AirAsia, Batik Air, and Malaysia Airlines, meeting the robust demand for travel, tourism, and business connectivity.

Beyond aviation, Malaysia is stepping up its tourism promotion in Vietnam through seminars, cultural events, and targeted campaigns for leisure and niche markets. Key efforts include Malaysia MADANI Week in Hanoi, the Malaysia Tourism, Arts, Culture & Food Fest 2025 in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as long-term programmes like Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) and the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.

About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.