On August 1 and 2, 2025, National Economics University (NEU), in collaboration with Hue University, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, successfully co-organized the 7th International Conference on Tourism Development in Vietnam under the theme “Tourism – Heritage – Cities – Creativity.”

An overview of the conference

Representing the leadership of Thua Thien Hue Province at the conference were Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism, and Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Representing NEU were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thi Bich Chi, Head of the Department of Finance and Accounting; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Truong Hoang, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality; Dr. Trinh Mai Van, Deputy Head of the Department of Research Management; and faculty and staff of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality.

Representing the partner institution, Hue University, were Dr. Do Thi Xuan Dung, Vice President of Hue University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Huu Tuan, Rector of the School of Hospitality and Tourism; and Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lien, Vice Rector of the School of Hospitality and Tourism. Participating scholars and international experts included Dr. Peter Debrine, Head of the Sustainable Tourism Programme at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre; Prof. Noel Scott, Edith Cowan University, Australia; Ms. Maria Kouteili, UNESCO Hanoi Office; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuong Ngoc, Aix-Marseille University, France; and Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center.

The conference attracted more than 100 delegates, including scholars, managers, tourism experts, and representatives of international organizations from numerous countries and territories. It provided an opportunity for researchers, experts, and policymakers from various countries to meet, exchange ideas, and work toward a shared vision of sustainable tourism development linked to preserving heritage values and harnessing the power of innovation in modern cities.

This year’s event held particular significance as Hue had officially become a centrally governed city at the beginning of 2025 and was serving as the host locality for National Tourism Year. In this context, the conference was not only an academic forum but also a highlight of the Hue Festival 2025 series of events, helping raise the city’s profile on the international creative tourism map.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Truong Hoang, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality at NEU, and speakers share their insights at the conference

The conference comprised two plenary sessions featuring five keynote speakers and 12 parallel sessions featuring presentations by 36 authors, including researchers from universities and research centers across Vietnam and international scholars. The conference focused on academic and practical issues concerning the relationships among tourism, heritage, cities, and creativity.

In his presentation on a model for developing heritage-based creative tourism products in Australia, Prof. Noel Scott of Edith Cowan University emphasized the need to connect visitor experiences with local identity and everyday life to encourage return visits. Meanwhile, Ms. Maria Kouteili of UNESCO proposed a comprehensive model for developing the nighttime economy in her presentation titled “Hue After Dark.” Peter Debrine, Head of the Sustainable Tourism Programme at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, also shared insights and good practices in smart visitor management and enhancing visitor experiences in cities such as Suzhou and Montreal.

Notable outcomes of the conference included lively academic discussions, global perspectives contributed by international speakers, and highly regarded professional organization. Young researchers from Vietnam made a strong impression with a series of insightful studies. A group of authors comprising Nguyen Phi Long, Pham Truong Hoang, Dong Thuy Duong, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and Bui Minh Tam also presented multiple studies on the destination images of Hanoi and Hue, as well as the role of creative festivals in evoking nostalgia among visitors.

Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Lien, Vice Rector of the School of Hospitality and Tourism, and Dr. Vu Nam of NEU moderate a parallel discussion session

Leaders of NEU and Hue University present commemorative gifts to the keynote speakers

Representatives of the leadership of the two institutions present gifts and pose for a commemorative photo

The conference was not only an important academic event but also clear evidence of the pioneering role of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality in promoting creative, sustainable tourism rooted in a strong sense of identity, helping elevate the standing of Vietnam’s tourism industry in a new development context.

With high-quality academic content, a well-structured organizational framework, and broad participation by domestic and international speakers, the 7th International Conference on Tourism Development in Vietnam, themed “Tourism – Heritage – Cities – Creativity,” affirmed its role as an academic hub and, in particular, continued the success of the reputable international conference series led by the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality at NEU. As the seventh conference in the series, it further affirmed the Faculty’s academic standing, organizational capacity, and role in connecting scholarship, policy, and practice in tourism. It also provided an important foundation for academic initiatives to continue spreading and laid the groundwork for the eighth conference in the future, where scholarship, policy, and practice will continue to intersect in pursuit of a more civilized, responsible, and creative tourism industry in Vietnam.

The conference was not only an important academic event but also clear evidence of the pioneering role of the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality in promoting creative, sustainable tourism rooted in a strong sense of identity, helping elevate the standing of Vietnam’s tourism industry in a new development context.

Some photos from the conference:

Article and photos: Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality and Department of Communications

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.