KUCHING: Vietnam’s BestPrice Travel has expressed interest in exploring the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Malaysia to help boost consumer confidence in the country’s tourism offerings.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said this was among several proposals raised during a recent engagement session aimed at enhancing Malaysia’s tourism brand visibility in the Vietnamese market.
BestPrice Travel’s chief marketing officer Bui Thanh Tu said Malaysia’s well-established amusement parks and rich cultural diversity strongly appeal to family travellers and younger Vietnamese tourists.
He also suggested that Malaysia maximise its presence through targeted media campaigns, travel fairs, and digital promotions.
“On digital marketing, he suggested combining social media along with key opinion leaders (KOLs) and key opinion consumers (KOCs) to promote Malaysia’s beautiful landscapes, cultural attractions, and more.
“He also expressed interest in exploring the possibility of signing a MoU to boost consumer confidence in Malaysia’s tourism products.
“In turn, we will provide promotional materials featuring Malaysia’s latest offerings and attractions,” said Tiong in a Facebook post.
In a separate session with the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), its chairman Vu The Binh noted that from January to March 2025, Vietnam recorded 2.7 million outbound travellers.
He expressed confidence that Malaysian arrivals could reach 70,000 to 100,000 during the same period, particularly with stronger promotional efforts and cultural showcases.
“Malaysia’s traditional costumes and cultural performances could spark significant interest among the Vietnamese public,” he was quoted as saying.
As such, Tiong said that such showcases would allow travellers to experience the richness of Malaysia’s heritage.
VITA, which represents over 17,000 corporate members and 50,000 individuals — including tour guides, chefs, freelancers, and trainers — also pledged to support Tourism Malaysia’s regional office in participating more actively in Vietnam-based tourism events to build stronger ties with local players.
