Vietnam's tourism industry continues to rank amongst the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world. A land of staggering natural beauty and cultural complexities, of dynamic megacities and hill-tribe villages, Vietnam is both exotic and compelling and tourism is set to continue to thrive in 2020.

TMG Hospitality is one of Asia's leading integrated travel and hospitality groups with a portfolio of twelve 3-star and 4-star hotels, cruise lines, trains and aviation services located across a large range of iconic destinations throughout Vietnam. TMG's brands are aligned with some of the leading travel trends for 2020 including; land travel, the authenticity and transformative travel trend, responsible travel and the desire amongst visitors to visit 'second cities'.

Authenticity and transformative travel trend

Travellers are looking for experiences that shape and stay with them – from interacting more with locals and learning a new skill to contributing something to the place they visit. Travellers value a travel experience which is more than just memorable, but which positively changes them on a personal level.

The TMG hospitality brands connect guests with the real Indochina while placing authenticity at the centre of experiences. Victoria Hotels & Resorts, a TMG brand, is a collection of 4-star boutique properties which embrace the best aspects of colonial heritage while showcasing local culture and landscape. From the pristine mountains of Sapa to the historic Ancient Town of Hoi An, from the coastline backed by desert-like sand dunes in Phan Thiet to the exotic floating markets of the Mekong Delta or Luang Prabang, each Victoria property offers the true trademarks of the real Indochina. At each property guests are encouraged to immerse themselves in the destination and meet local people.

At the Victoria Sapa Resort & Spa, visitors can participate in homestay program, The Victoria Homestay Experience. Guests will have the option of staying with a family from the H'mong ethnic group in the Black H'mong village of Lao Chai , experiencing daily life of a local family in the hills. Visitors can immerse themselves in the magic of Sapa by waking up to thick mist rolling in across the valley, gazing out over terraced rice fields and savouring a home-cooked meal with their H'mong host family. The Victoria Homestay Experience accommodates up to eight people in a rustic yet comfortable traditional H'mong wooden house. Visit https://www.victoriahotels.asia/en/hotels-resorts/sapa.html 

Responsible travel trend

With the growing threats of climate change, over-tourism, overdevelopment, and poor development, responsible travel remains front of mind for travellers in 2020.

The Victoria Mekong is the brand new 4-star ship, and this cruise is the newest addition to TMG. It is one of the greenest ships on the Mekong. All efforts have been made to eliminate plastic from the boat, including complimentary reusable bottles in the cabins and no plastic straws amongst other initiatives. The ship is also equipped with a freshwater generator which processes river water into both freshwater and drinkable water. Solar energy is harnessed to help power the boat's systems, while a high-tech, super-quiet power plant gives a cruising speed of 6 knots and a brisk top speed of 11 knots. Visit http://victoriamekong.com/en/

Land travel trend

Many experts have tipped train travel to become increasingly popular as holidaymakers strive to reduce their carbon footprint and begin to lean in to slow travel. With the Greta Thunberg effect, travellers are starting to look at how they can reduce their impact on the planet and turning to alternative methods of transport instead of flying.

Reviving the Golden Age of Travel, the stylish, Indochina-inspired Victoria Express Train is the most luxurious way to journey between Hanoi and Lao Cai, helping guests arrive refreshed and ready for a full day of sightseeing ahead. Each compartment is wood-panelled with air-conditioning, and there is a restaurant carriage with a well-stocked bar and a small menu serving Vietnamese and international dishes. Compartments are either two or four berths and easily convert to comfortable beds for overnight journeys. Toilet facilities are shared. Visit: www.victoriahotels.asia/en/victoria-train

'Second cities' trend

Places that are off the beaten track are becoming increasingly popular as people often get a more authentic experience when visiting 'second cities'. Da Nang is an example of place that used to be primarily a stop-off point for travellers en route to Hoi An, but now it is making its way on to all the hot travel lists due to its modern resorts, picturesque and a rapidly evolving street food scene. Da Nang has quickly grown in recent years – but it's still far less touristy than Vietnam's older cities. For the foodies, this amounts to plenty of authentic, local cuisine to taste. Here, street vendors peddling tasty, inexpensive meals rule the roads, each specialising in one or two signature dishes. Da Nang's coastline stretches 30 kilometres, renowned for calm, cool waters and also popular for fishing, water-skiing, diving, and yachting. New flights from TMG's Hai Au Aviation connect Da Nang with Hue for the first time ever. Visit https://www.seaplanes.vn/en/