Vietnam and Thailand: New horizons for cultural and tourism cooperation!

Vietnam and Thailand: New horizons for cultural and tourism cooperation!

A significant meeting between Vietnam and Thailand was held on May 15, 2025, aimed at promoting exchanges in the fields of culture, education, sports and tourism. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Tran Hai Van from Vietnam and Mr. Seksun Ngawsuwan from Thailand. The meeting was attended by representatives from various ministries and agencies from both countries, including the Vietnamese National Tourism Authority and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The aim of the meeting was to appreciate existing cooperation and explore new directions for cooperation.

Ms. Tran Hai Van presented initial drafts of a report that included various suggestions for future cooperation. Vietnam placed particular focus on strengthening cooperation in the field of cultural heritage to promote exchanges of museums and cultural goods. A central concern is also the sustainable development of tourism. This includes the digital transformation in tourism management, which should make it possible to make the sector more effective and environmentally conscious. Thailand noted these suggestions favorably and emphasized its desire to improve cross-border tourism connectivity. These include the promotion of self-drive tourism, the expansion of direct flights and the establishment of city partnerships.

Cultural exchange and tourism

In the area of ​​sport, the focus was on cooperation to promote young talent and support for international sporting events. For example, the exchange programs for sports delegations and coaches are to be intensified. In addition to sports, training in the education sector was also discussed, with Vietnam aiming to promote the establishment of Vietnamese teaching centers in Thailand to preserve the identity of the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

In terms of work area, Vietnam plans to resume comprehensive cooperation documents to further expand cooperation between the two countries. Interpersonal exchange plays a central role here. It should be facilitated and supported through symbolic works of friendship in Thailand. Thailand expressed great interest in this, particularly in the area of ​​tourism.

Digital transformation in Vietnam

In addition to cooperation in the cultural and tourism sectors, Vietnam is pursuing comprehensive digital transformation. This is part of the Digital Transformation Agenda (DTA), which aims to use digital technologies for economic growth and social development. Vietnam has ambitious goals, including achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and transforming into a highly developed country by 2045. The national digital transformation policy focuses on the areas of digital government, digital economy and digital society, with the aim of offering all administrative operations online by 2025.

The government has already made progress, but challenges such as privacy concerns and inequality in the digital transition remain. The digital society should be promoted by expanding infrastructure and training citizens with digital skills. Another goal is to provide 80 percent of the population with electronic payment services by 2035.

Overall, it is clear that both the cultural exchange between Vietnam and Thailand and Vietnam's digital transformation offer promising prospects, but also bring challenges that must be overcome together. The exchange of ideas and mutual support in these areas could form the basis for successful collaboration and sustainable growth.

For further information please refer to the full reports from Vietnam.vn and Open Development Mekong be referred.