MoU signed to boost Vietnam-Singapore tourism ties

Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Vietnam Airlines (VNA), and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) have established a strategic partnership to strengthen tourism ties and connectivity between Vietnam and Singapore.

Under a strategic MoU signed Tuesday in Hanoi, the three parties aim to promote Singapore as a preferred destination for both leisure and business travel from Vietnam, position Sentosa as a top-of-mind getaway for Vietnamese tourists, and reinforce VNA as the carrier of choice for travel to Singapore.

STB, VNA and SDC will collaborate on a series of joint marketing and promotional activities. These include highlighting Singapore and Sentosa’s diverse and unique offerings through hosted familiarization trips for Vietnamese celebrities, media, and Key Opinion Leaders (KOL), a collaborative feature on Singapore and Sentosa in VNA inflight magazine Heritage, and enhancing VNA’ Boarding Pass Privileges program for Vietnamese travellers to Singapore.

Other planned initiatives include in-flight campaigns, travel trade engagement through hosted familiarization trips, and participation in travel fairs.

The partnership comes at a time when Singapore is experiencing strong tourism momentum. In 2024, international visitor arrivals reached 16.5 million, of which more than 393,000 are from Vietnam. Tourism receipts totalled SGD29.8 billion ($23 billion), reflecting continued demand for the city state’s diverse and evolving offerings.

Vietnam remains one of Singapore’s top 15 visitor source markets, underscoring the potential to further grow quality tourism from Vietnam.

Juliana Kua, assistant chief executive, International Group of Singapore Tourism Board, said: “Vietnam is a key source market for Singapore and continues to have strong potential for future growth. This tripartite MoU is part of our broader effort to deepen strategic partnerships across the region and reflects the importance of valued partners like Vietnam Airlines and Sentosa Development Corporation.

"I look forward to growing Singapore’s appeal together, and to give discerning Vietnamese travellers new reasons to visit both Singapore and Sentosa through Vietnam Airlines."

Singapore remains a key strategic market for VNA in Southeast Asia. Since launching its Vietnam-Singapore route over 30 years ago, the airline has transported more than 8.1 million passengers between the two countries.

Currently, VNA operates 21 weekly flights connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Singapore. In 2024 alone, the airline served over 400,000 passengers on these routes. In the first four months of 2025, VNA carried 116,000 passengers.

Dang Anh Tuan, executive vice president of VNA, stated: "This tripartite partnership represents a strong commitment to fostering greater regional connectivity and enriching the travel experience for Vietnamese tourists. Singapore has long been a key market for Vietnam Airlines.

"By combining our strengths - Vietnam Airlines’ extensive network and customer base, STB’s destination marketing expertise, and SDC’s iconic offerings - we will deliver impactful joint campaigns that resonate with modern travellers. The aim goes beyond boosting visitor numbers - it’s about fostering cultural exchange, connecting communities, and advancing the sustainable growth of tourism between the two nations."

Michael Ma, assistant chief executive (Business & Digital Technology Group) of Sentosa Development Corporation, said that more Vietnamese travellers visiting Sentosa as part of their Singapore holiday, with over 110,000 visits last year.

"Through this strategic partnership with Vietnam Airlines and Singapore Tourism Board, we hope more Vietnamese travellers can enjoy Sentosa's unique charm, including our upcoming “Peranakan Reimagined” from May to August this year," said Michael Ma.

The showcase invites guests to discover the rich Peranakan culture in Singapore through vibrant installations, projection artworks, performances, workshops, and specially curated Peranakan dining experiences across Sentosa. This adds a novel and colorful dimension to Sentosa's world-class attractions, pristine beaches, and unforgettable experiences.