Vietnam and Malta Strengthen Tourism Cooperation, Boosting its Bilateral Relations and Creating New Opportunities for Cultural Exchanges and Travel

Published on
January 24, 2026

A meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Le Thi Thu Hang, and Christopher Cutajar, who is the Permanent Secretary for Foreign and Tourism Affairs of Malta, was held on January 23 in Hanoi with the aim of strengthening cooperation between both countries in the domain of tourism. The meetings reflect and emphasize the significance of this sector as part of the bilateral relations between both countries with respect to mutual goals in this particular domain.

On her part, Hang appreciated the opportunity to build on their meeting in Malta in September 2025 and stressed the capacity generated through their collaboration for new tourism cooperation growth between the two nations. She recognized the important tourism exchange possibilities to engender deeper understanding and appreciate each country’s cultural wealth and natural splendor.

Tourism Cooperation: Unlocking New Opportunities for Growth

The tourism cooperation angle featured prominently in the discussions, with both sides agreeing to work on enhancing tourist exchanges and joint promotional activities. Cutajar expressed Malta’s growing interest in Vietnam as a tourism destination, particularly as Vietnam continues to strengthen its appeal among global travelers. Both leaders recognized the value of expanding cooperation in tourism marketing and destination promotion to attract more visitors from each country, thereby contributing to the growth of their tourism sectors.

Vietnam, with its vibrant cities, rich cultural heritage, and scenic landscapes, offers tremendous opportunities for Malta’s tourism market. Similarly, Malta holds strong appeal for Vietnamese tourists with its Mediterranean charm, historic landmarks, and sunny climate. Through tourism cooperation, both countries hope to create more avenues for tourists to discover the diverse attractions each has to offer, enhancing the global tourism visibility of both nations.

Strengthening Cultural and Educational Tourism Connections

In addition to leisure tourism, the talks also highlighted educational tourism as an emerging area for growth. Both nations expressed their interest in promoting student exchanges, academic collaborations, and language tourism. Vietnam has increasingly become a hub for students from around the world, and Malta offers unique opportunities for higher education in a European setting. Building on this potential will not only benefit the tourism sector but also strengthen people-to-people connections.

Furthermore, the countries agreed to deepen their cultural exchanges, leveraging tourism as a means to share both historical and contemporary cultural experiences. Events, festivals, and exhibitions showcasing each nation’s traditions, art, and cuisine could be promoted as part of cross-cultural tourism initiatives, providing a platform for both nations to showcase their rich heritage to a broader international audience.

Promoting Sustainable and Responsible Tourism

As both Vietnam and Malta pursue sustainable tourism models, the tourism cooperation discussions also touched upon sustainable travel practices. The countries expressed a shared commitment to promoting eco-tourism and responsible travel. With Vietnam’s lush natural landscapes and Malta’s pristine coastlines, both nations aim to balance tourism growth with environmental protection, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the natural beauty each country offers.

Tourism Cooperation as a Catalyst for Broader Economic Growth

The growing collaboration in tourism is expected to have a positive economic impact, not only in the tourism sector but also across other related industries such as hospitality, transportation, and local businesses. By enhancing tourism cooperation, Vietnam and Malta will create new opportunities for economic development and job creation, particularly in tourism-related services like guides, tour operators, hotels, and restaurants.

In addition to tourism exchanges, business tourism will be another significant driver of cooperation growth, with conferences and trade fairs expected to become more frequent, providing opportunities for business delegations from both countries to explore investment and partnership opportunities.

Education, People-to-People Exchanges, and Tourism Impact

The tourism cooperation growth angle also extends to education and people-to-people exchanges, with both nations recognizing the importance of these areas for long-term bilateral relations. These exchanges will foster better mutual understanding, help cultivate more skilled professionals in the tourism and hospitality sectors, and increase the exchange of ideas and practices.

The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam also welcomed Cutajar’s visit, showcasing opportunities to enhance academic and tourism-focused educational programs that will further integrate the two nations. These efforts will contribute to tourism education and capacity-building in both countries, ensuring that the growth of the tourism sector is well-supported by well-trained professionals.

Tourism Cooperation Growth Fuels Vietnam-Malta Relations

The conversation between Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Christopher Cutajar indicates a commitment to stepping up their bilateral cooperation in tourism as a vital facet of bilateral relations between both countries. With both countries seeking opportunities to leverage each other’s budding tourism prospects, sustainability-based approaches to tourism will surely lay foundational groundwork for increased development of both countries’ tourism industries. Given this diplomatic and economic support, it is certain that bilateral cooperation between both countries’ tourism industries will continue to progress with increasing prosperity and understanding between both countries’ peoples.