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Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Sri Lankan President to pay state visit to Vietnam, attend Vesak 2025

Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will pay a state visit to Vietnam and attend the 20th United Nations Day of Vesak Celebrations (Vesak 2025) from May 4-6.

The visit will be made at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong, according to an announcement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Themed “Unity and Inclusivity for Human Dignity: Buddhist Insights for World Peace and Sustainable Development,” Vesak 2025 is scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6-8.

The event is expected to attract over 2,700 participants, including about 1,250 international delegates from 85 countries and territories, who are Buddhist dignitaries, followers, and scholars, cited VNA.

Vesak 2025 is set to promote the image of Vietnam as a peaceful, hospitable, united, and harmonious nation to the international community, and HCM City as a dynamic, creative, and prosperous metropolis, Most Venerable Thich Gia Quang, Vice President of the VBS’s Executive Council and Chairman of the VBS’s Information and Communications Committee, said at a recent press briefing.

It also demonstrates the consistent policy of the Vietnamese Party and State in respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion, he said.

The event aims to enhance exchanges and friendship between the Vietnamese people and international friends, and affirm Vietnam’s position and responsibility to the UN and the international community.

UK media hails thriving Vietnam amid Asian tourism boom

Vietnam has been named among one of the examples of Asia's tourism boom thanks to its stunning destinations, warm climate, and affordable prices, according to British newspaper The Daily Express.

The media outlet revealed that Vietnam welcomed a total of 17.6 million international tourists in 2024, whilst it has broken its tourism record with over six million visitors in the first quarter of this year.

“Vietnam can credit its success to many things, including that the country benefits from being warm all year round, and currently the average temperature for April can hit right up to 33C,” it noted.

It also shared that thanks to the low prices and warm weather, a trip to Vietnam makes a great option for sun-seeking Brits who are eager to get away, with travelers finding that Vietnam has plenty to offer when visiting the country.

In an article posted on express.co.uk, the piece stressed that the Southeast Asian country boasts an abundance of stunning natural landscapes to explore, much more than just white sandy beaches.

A breathtaking view of Ha Long Bay.

“It ranges from mountains and rice terraces to waterfalls and bays. The country has so many wonders that will take your breath away,” it added.

One of the most attractive destinations, according to the UK newspaper, is Ha Long Bay situated in the northern province of Quang Ninh that is home to thousands of differently shaped and sized islands and islets.

“As well as being a popular tourism destination, where cruises sail along the emerald green waters, the bay is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, described as an "exceptionally beautiful landscape,” it said.

The media outlet also mentioned Da Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

“Known as the ‘City of Eternal Spring’, Da Lat is renowned for its mild weather, incredible landscapes, and romantic atmosphere. The city attracts travellers who are seeking to unwind as well as those wanting to experience the ultimate outdoor adventure,” it revealed.

The newspaper also noted that the area is a great spot for hiking, mountain biking, and canyoning. It suggested that visitors should spend time exploring Nui Ba National Park or take the trails heading up Lang Biang mountain.

The best way to enjoy Vietnam's hot weather would be to visit the beach, which the country isn't short of.

“With coastline stretching over 3000 kilometres, Vietnam has plenty of beaches, which are unique to one another. From family beaches to island-hopping ones, there's an ideal beach for everyone and everything to enjoy in this mesmerizing country,” it concluded.

Overseas Vietnamese help Vietnamese products go global

The overseas Vietnamese (OV) community is increasingly recognised as a key force and an effective distribution channel, driving the growth of Vietnam’s exports, thereby enhancing the country’s cultural outreach and economic standing on the global stage.

In 2016, approximately 4.5 million Vietnamese were residing in 109 countries and territories. Today, the figures have risen to over 6 million and more than 130, respectively. Once focused on small-scale trade, many OV entrepreneurs now own major retail centers and operate extensive wholesale networks, boosting the availability of Vietnamese products abroad.

Vietnam’s initiative of mobilizing OVs to promote and distribute Vietnamese goods abroad (2020–2024) has so far yielded strong results. Products like coffee, cashew nuts, dragon fruits, mangoes, handicrafts, apparel, and processed foods have been introduced more widely in major markets, including the US, the EU, Japan, the Republic of Korea and China. In addition to traditional exports, OV businesses are striving to expand into the categories of new farm produce and spices.

In 2019, the inaugural year of the project, Vietnam’s total trade turnover reached 516.96 billion USD. By the end of 2024, this figure had surged to 786.29 billion USD, according to VNA.

Processing dragon fruit for exports (Photo: VNA)

In light of ongoing global and regional complexities, and as the country works towards a GDP growth target of 8% this year, the project’s achievements have played a role in sustaining stable export growth and broader economic development, said Nguyen Trung Kien, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese. It has encouraged OVs to further leverage their "soft power" to elevate the national brand internationally, he added.

Nguyen Hong Hue, member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and President of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese (BAOOV), stated that timely and strategic policies have paved a new path for enhancing exports and building a global Vietnamese brand by harnessing the strength of the OV community.

He proposed the introduction of targeted policies to support the next generation of OV entrepreneurs in participating more actively in the Vietnamese goods development ecosystem.

Echoing this sentiment, Vo Van Nam, a Vietnamese expatriate in the Czech Republic and Deputy General Director of Tamda Group a.s., reported that the number of Vietnamese products sold through the group’s system has increased two to threefold over the past five years. This expansion has helped bring Vietnamese goods into more than 10,000 retail outlets owned by Vietnamese individuals across the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Vietnam’s e-commerce development in 2025: Navigating challenges

The recently released Vietnam E-Business Index (EBI) 2025 indicates that the country’s e-commerce sector is expected to hold a significant share in overall trade and the digital economy this year.

Newly introduced regulations on taxation, customs and import–export management issued in late 2024, which take effect in 2025, mark the beginning of a new phase for Vietnam’s e-commerce. In addition, the National Master Plan for E-commerce Development for 2026–2030, and particularly the revised Law on E-commerce, will serve as key pillars for the sector’s rapid and sustainable growth.

According to Doan Quoc Tam, Head of the Cooperation Department at the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM), the rapid expansion and growing scale of e-commerce has prompted tax agencies to adopt a broad range of strong and coordinated measures to ensure state budget revenue.

“Many tax-related policies will come into effect in 2025. Stakeholders need to work closely together to identify and revise any inappropriate regulations, ensuring that management supports business growth and nurtures future tax revenue. This will be key to spurring fast and sustainable e-commerce growth in the coming years,” Tam said.

In February 2025, the Ministry of Finance held its first meeting with delivery service providers for online businesses, as part of efforts to enhance tax administration. The move follows a previous policy requiring e-commerce platforms to report merchants' business activities to tax agencies. At the meeting, the ministry asked delivery service providers to start submitting relevant data to support tax monitoring.

Tam noted that some major platforms now handle massive daily transaction volumes, and many customers use postal and delivery services when shopping online. However, a large number of buyers either do not request invoices or do not provide the necessary information to receive them.

“As a result, requiring platforms and delivery providers to issue invoices for every single online purchase, even when buyers do not want them or fail to provide information, would be unfeasible and unnecessarily burdensome. This could lead to millions of redundant invoices each day and waste significant resources for both e-commerce and delivery companies,” he said.

E-commerce no longer driven solely by price competition

EBI 2025 forecasts Vietnam’s e-commerce market to reach US$25–32 billion in 2025, with an annual growth rate of 18–20%. E-commerce is also projected to account for two-thirds of the country’s digital economy, supported by an Internet penetration rate exceeding 70% and a young, tech-savvy population.

However, Do Huu Hung, Vice Chairman of VECOM, predicts that growth via e-commerce platforms will reach 21.6% in 2025 and may slow further in 2026, as new tax policies taking effect in April 2025 could force platforms and retailers to adjust product prices. This is likely to have a substantial impact on overall e-commerce growth, VOV reported.

E-commerce businesses aim to turn current customers into advocates and bring in new ones.

“E-commerce will no longer be a viable playing field for sellers who focus only on price. Starting April 1, platforms must pay taxes on behalf of sellers. Around 30,000 online sellers are expected to be subject to back taxes, and an estimated 38,000 may leave the platforms. However, up to 95% of large-scale sellers with annual revenues of over VND50 billion may still double their sales,” Hung said.

He also highlighted the potential for newcomers in Vietnam’s billion-dollar e-commerce market, as 70% of local consumers are already familiar with online shopping. With growing opportunities in cross-border e-commerce and a competitive logistics network, Vietnamese consumers are also becoming more confident thanks to better fraud prevention and tighter control of counterfeit goods.

To unlock new opportunities, businesses should support newcomers with knowledge of emerging technologies like AI, blockchain, social commerce, and cross-border e-commerce. Turning existing customers into brand advocates and offering value-added incentives, such as discounts, gifts, cashbacks, or interactive campaigns, can help attract and retain users.

“It’s time for a shift in Vietnam’s e-commerce landscape. Major players should team up with influential content creators, including key opinion consumers (KOCs), key opinion leaders (KOLs), and industry experts, to run engaging campaigns that use livestreaming, AI, and social media. These efforts can shape consumer behavior and encourage habitual online shopping,” Hung said.

Central region advised to promote tourism growth through cultural heritage

The year 2025 is expected to mark a significant turning point for tourism in Central Vietnam, as localities in the region simultaneously roll out large-scale, strategic initiatives aimed at redefining cultural experiences for holidaymakers.

At the heart of this transformation is the annual national drive Visit Vietnam Year, hosted by Hue city this year under the theme “Ancient Capital, New Horizons.” This initiative is complemented by coordinated promotional campaigns in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Da Nang, and Quang Nam, each contributing a distinct “instrument” to a powerful and harmonious “symphony” of the region’s heritage tourism.

According to Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Hue Department of Tourism, the return of the Visit Vietnam Year to the city for the second time is a “golden opportunity” for it to make a strong impression, fully leverage its cultural assets, and regain tourism growth momentum. Hue is introducing a range of creative new tours and experiential routes that showcase its strengths in cuisine, the iconic Vietnamese traditional dress “ao dai,” traditional festivals, craft villages, and ecological attractions.

In Quang Binh, the focus remains on adventure and eco-tourism, with the globally renowned Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and Son Doong Cave continuing to be the local crown jewels. The province aims to welcome 5.5 million visitors in 2025.

Quang Tri, rich in historical significance, is embracing digital storytelling and memorial tourism to bring depth and modern appeal to landmarks such as the Quang Tri Citadel, Hien Luong Bridge – Ben Hai River, and the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail, cited VNA.

Monument to the heroes and martyrs at Quang Tri Citadel, Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, Da Nang, the region’s most modern urban hub, reinforces its role as a regional gateway with the slogan “Enjoy Da Nang 2025 – Diverse Experience.” A dynamic calendar of music, culinary, and beach sports festivals, along with the famed international fireworks festival, is planned. Expanded international flight routes, dedicated cruise ship terminals, and the integration of digital technologies into tourism management and promotion further strengthen the city’s appeal.

Quang Nam is breathing new life into its iconic sites of Hoi An, My Son, and Cham Island – by combining local cultural depth with contemporary trends. The province is also promoting new eco-tourism, agricultural, and community-based travel routes in its mountainous west, diversifying the well-trodden path Hoi An – My Son – Cua Dai beach.

Though the region holds immense untapped potential, the true flourishing of its heritage tourism lies not only in promotion or infrastructure investment. A vital element is cultivating the art of heritage appreciation by offering travellers more profound, immersive experiences such as curated storytelling spaces, mindfulness and spiritual healing activities rooted in culture, and other forms of engagement.

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