The Tourist Economy

While Vietnam’s economy is growing in many ways, including manufacturing and high-tech, the tourist economy is expanding at a strong rate.

More than 15 million people visited last year and that is up about two million from the year before.

You can see new construction related to tourism underway almost everywhere. Unfortunately from my perspective it looks a lot like big tourist destinations around the world. There is something inauthentic about much of it and much of it also isolates tourists from the real Vietnam.

I have made an effort to stay away from some of the big attractions during my travels but a few times I have taken organized tours as the best way to reach certain areas. The crowds can be crushing. Many tourist destinations in Vietnam recommend arriving in mid-afternoon when it’s hot - on the theory that fewer people will put up with the heat.

The picture in this post was taken at the My Son temple ruins in Hue.