(TITC) – Earlier, in Hanoi, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, had a meeting with Ms. Joanna Skoczek, Head of Mission of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Hanoi. The two sides discussed measures to promote tourism cooperation, strengthen aviation connectivity, and expand business exchange between the two countries.
At the meeting, VNAT’s Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai welcomed Ms. Joanna Skoczek to VNAT’s headquarter, emphasizing that the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Poland serves as a solid foundation for both sides to step up tourism cooperation in the coming time.
The VNAT’s Vice Chairwoman noted that Vietnam continues to maintain its appeal to international visitors, welcoming 21.2 million international arrivals in 2025 and 14 million arrivals in the first seven months of 2026. Notably, Poland is emerging as one of the fastest-growing European source markets for Vietnam. In 2024, Vietnam welcomed 51,157 Polish tourists. In 2025, this figure grew by 42.6% to reach approximately 73,000 arrivals, highlighting substantial potential for market expansion.
This growth has been driven by favorable immigration policies, including the implementation of electronic visas (e-visas) since February 2017 and the extension of e-visa validity up to 3 months starting 15 August 2023.
Under Government Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP issued on 8 August 2025, Polish citizens enjoy a 45-day visa exemption policy when traveling under tour programs organized by international travel enterprises in Vietnam. Effective from 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028, this policy creates highly favourable conditions to attract an increasing number of Polish tourists to Vietnam.
Both sides have also placed strong emphasis on promotional activities. A notable highlight was the B2C Vietnam Tourism Introduction Program held in Poland on 22 June 2025, to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Poland.
During the discussion, Ms. Joanna Skoczek affirmed that Vietnam is one of Poland’s key markets in Southeast Asia. Polish tourists tend to stay for extended periods, typically ranging from 10 days to a month, and often prefer traveling between November and February to escape the cold European winter.
This traveller group has diverse preferences, spanning family vacations, cultural and historical exploration, nature, and cuisine, with itineraries covering multiple destinations from North to South. Poland currently ranks 5th among European source markets for tourists to Vietnam.
Given the growing demand for two-way travel, enhancing aviation connectivity is considered a crucial factor in fully leveraging market potential.
Ms. Joanna Skoczek shared that in early March 2027, LOT Polish Airlines plans to launch a direct flight route connecting Warsaw and Ho Chi Minh City with a frequency of 3 flights per week, alongside operating charter flights. The direct route is expected to generate strong momentum in boosting Polish tourist arrivals to Vietnam while broadening opportunities for tourism and commercial exchanges between the two nations.
Both sides agreed to expedite the completion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cooperation between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Poland. Alongside institutional cooperation, both sides will step up the sharing of official information, support the promotion of Vietnam’s tourism image in Poland, and facilitate business-to-business links between travel companies.
Furthermore, the Vietnamese community in Poland is expected to continue acting as a bridge to promote Vietnamese culture, cuisine, and image to the Polish public. The network of over 100 Vietnamese restaurants operating in Poland also serves as an asset to highlight gastronomy in destination promotion.
Both sides agreed to encourage tourism enterprises to increase exchanges, organize product inspection trips (fam trips), foster business partnerships, and design products tailored to market demands.
With growth momentum from the Polish market, coupled with the prospect of direct flights and an established institutional cooperation framework between the two ministries, Vietnam-Poland tourism cooperation is poised to enter a deeper and broader phase of development, contributing to stronger people-to-people ties and enhanced bilateral relations.
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