Vietnam has become an increasingly popular destination for travelers from all around the world because of its beautiful sceneries and rich cultural heritage. Among the different types of tourism, a new model called MICE has emerged and experienced great growth in recent years. Are you interested in choosing Vietnam as your MICE destination but still seeking more information? Have you seen beautiful images of Vietnam online and wondered where those mesmerizing destinations are? If so, this article is for you! Here, we will explore the landscape of MICE tourism in Vietnam, why the country is such an ideal MICE destination, and the best places in Vietnam to hold MICE events.
What is MICE tourism?
MICE is an acronym that stands for Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition. MICE tourism is a model of tourism that combines professional events such as seminars, exhibitions, business conferences, and networking events with sight-seeing and leisure activities for companies’ employees as well as their partners. There are four general types of MICE tours: Meeting, Event/Exhibition, Incentive, and Convention Tour. Companies hold these MICE events for their employees and partners so they can engage in networking and conducting important negotiations while experiencing the local culture, developing teamwork, and strengthening professional bonds.
Landscape of MICE tourism in Vietnam
Vietnam has increasingly become a strong competitor in the Southeast Asia region as an ideal place for holding MICE events. In recent years, Vietnam has held several big conferences such as ASEAN Summit 2010, APEC 2017, and the 18th Global Women Summit that drew in not only domestic travelers but also international delegations from the United States, Germany, Thailand, Japan, and China.
Imagine yourself one day networking with your business partners in a luxury convention center looking out at Halong Bay, and the next day getting on a 5-star ship cruising on the mesmerizing teal water of Halong Bay watching the sun set on top of incredibly and uniquely shaped karsts limestones. Besides Ha Long Bay being recognized as one of the World’s Seven Wonders, Vietnam also has other UNESCO World Heritage Sites worth visiting at least once in a life time. Beautiful and diverse natural sceneries, rich cultural heritages, and irresistible culinary delights are just a few reasons why Vietnam is considered as one of the most ideal places to hold MICE events.
Vietnam is also a place with great political stability and convenient VISA process, making the country more easily accessible to people around the world. Besides its natural beauty, Vietnam is well-known for its hospitality and is full of friendly people who would love to talk to tourists about local culture and engage in forming meaningful bonds.
Moreover, being a developing country, Vietnam’s new hotels and resorts are built with the newest design in mind and are well-equipped with professional staff to provide clients with the best possible service. And, to top all of this off, the cost of holding such big MICE events in Vietnam would be considerably less compared with its strongest competitor in the area, Singapore, while still ensuring great quality.
Best destinations for MICE tourism in Vietnam
Vietnam is undoubtedly one of the most ideal places for MICE tourism in the Southeast Asia region, so where in the country would be the best destinations for MICE tourism in Vietnam? Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi, and Da Nang have proven to be the top three places for MICE events because they are Vietnam’s economic hubs, cultural, and political centers that are filled with buzzing networking opportunities.
Ho Chi Minh City
Being the country’s economic hub, Ho Chi Minh city has abundant cultural and historical spots for sight-seeing opportunities while having the most advanced convention halls capable of hosting big conferences. Such convention centers include the SECC, White Palace Convention Center, and SKYEXPO. Some popular attractions for leisurely activities include Ben Thanh Market, Notre Dame Cathedral, Tan Dinh church, and Cu Chi tunnel. Ho Chi Minh city is also a place for diverse culinary delights with the best quality food from all over the country, ranging from local specialties to luxury fine-dining experiences.
Ha Noi
Ha Noi, being the capital of Vietnam, is famous for its numerous historical relics and rich cultural vibes. Hence, it is ranked within the most popular destinations for MICE tourism in Vietnam. Some well-known attractions in the city include Hoan Kiem Lake, Long Bien Bridge, and the Old Quarter. Going outside the parameters of Ha Noi city, tourists can experience the beautiful mountainous sceneries and engage in the culture of different minorities living in the Northern part of Vietnam in areas such as Sa Pa, Moc Chau, Yen Bai, and the beautiful rice paddy field of Mu Cang Chai.
Da Nang
Da Nang is considered one of the cleanest cities in Vietnam and is famous for its beautiful beaches and mountainous sceneries. It is the perfect and rare combination of diverse natural beauty that draws tourists not only from other countries but also within Vietnam to visit Da Nang.
From Da Nang’s well-developed city with top-notched convention halls for professional events, tourists can find themselves enjoy the historic sight of Old Town Hoi An or go up the Ba Na Hill cable car that holds the World Record as being the longest non-stop, heaviest, and biggest change in elevation cable car line. In Ba Na Hill, companies can organize team-building activities that strengthen co-workers’ bond with each other as well as with the companies.
Other developing cities
Besides these big three cities, there are several other developing cities in Vietnam which are also suitable for MICE tourism such as Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. They have mesmerizing beaches and amazing outdoor activities while still having the ability to host big events.
For example, Phu Quoc island has recently become one of the most developed islands in Vietnam while maintaining its diverse ecosystem with many landscapes to be explored. Tourists can engage in many interesting leisurely activities such as visiting fishing villages, snorkeling for beautiful corals, and eating freshly-caught seafood on a boat in the middle of crystal clear teal ocean water.
All in all, MICE tourism in Vietnam has been on the rise dramatically in recent years, which has become a huge revenue for tourism in Vietnam. Having become one of the most popular destinations for hosting MICE events, Vietnam has engaged in investing more in infrastructure such as expanding Tan Son Nhat international airport and opening subway lines to make sure tourists have the best experience. The country has also invested in marketing strategies to make sure its attractions are well-conveyed and its stand as one of the most ideal for MICE tourism is maintained.
