Malaysian Tourism authority and an airline's website join forces in agreement to enhance mutual tourism
In a significant move to boost tourism growth and promote two-way travel between Malaysia and Vietnam, Tourism Malaysia and Vietnam Airlines signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) on August 2, 2025, in Hanoi. This strategic partnership aims to drive tourism growth, connectivity, and sustainable development within the ASEAN region.
The MoC details several cooperative initiatives including joint marketing campaigns, promotional activities, and information exchange to attract more travelers between the two countries. Both parties will collaborate on co-branded advertising, familiarisation trips for media and travel agents, cultural events, and other promotional efforts to highlight Malaysia as a leisure and business destination while positioning Vietnam Airlines as the preferred carrier between the two nations.
Datuk Manoharan Periasamy, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, described the partnership as a forward-looking alliance to bring the peoples and cultures of Malaysia and Vietnam closer through travel. Vietnam Airlines Executive Vice President Dang Anh Tuan emphasized that the MoC will facilitate easier and more affordable travel for Vietnamese tourists to Malaysia and encourage Malaysians to explore Vietnam’s vibrant culture and heritage.
Currently, there are 164 weekly direct flights connecting major cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc with Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru, operated by several airlines including Vietnam Airlines and Malaysia Airlines.
This cooperation supports Malaysia’s broader tourism goals, including upcoming campaigns like Malaysia MADANI Week, the Malaysia Tourism, Arts, Culture & Food Fest 2025, and the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, all aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The MoC's signing ceremony took place at Vietnam Airlines' headquarters in Hanoi. For Đặng Anh Tuấn, the Executive Vice President of Vietnam Airlines, the MoC marks more than just a formal agreement. He stated that the MoC will lead to stronger and more impactful cooperation between the two parties.
In summary, the MoC formalizes collaborative efforts to promote cross-border tourism leveraging air connectivity, marketing synergy, and cultural exchange between Malaysia and Vietnam. The aim of the partnership is to make travel between Vietnam and Malaysia easier and more affordable for both nations, while highlighting the unique charm of both countries as leisure and business destinations.
- The collaboration between Tourism Malaysia and Vietnam Airlines, as outlined in the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC), involves using AI for targeted marketing to attract more travelers by personalizing promotional content.
- This strategic partnership aligns with the increased focus on business tourism, as both nations seek to position themselves as attractive destinations for conferences, meetings, and exhibitions.
- In addition to the MoC's primary objectives, both parties express interest in using culture as a selling point to entice travelers, organizing cultural events showcasing the rich heritage and traditions of both Malaysia and Vietnam.
- To further encourage travel, both countries are considering bilateral agreements that address visa facilitation, making it easier for citizens of each nation to travel for leisure or business purposes.
