Tourism is increasingly important in Vietnam. For backpackers, culture and nature lovers, beach-lovers and veterans touring the country for a long time, Vietnam has emerged itself as a new tourist destination in Southeast Asia and on is now on lists in magazines worldwide. Hotel investors especially the potential of the 3000-kilometer-long coast line and the big cities. The tourism offer has been increasingly diversified. Local and international tour operators offer tours to ethnic minority groups, walking and bicycle tours, kayak trips and multi-country trips in particular in connection with neighboring Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. In addition, thanks to the lift of several movement regulations, foreign tourists have been able to travel freely in the country since 1997.
The economy of Vietnam has transformed from an agrarian to a service economy. More than a third of gross domestic product is generated by services, which include the hotel and catering industry and transportation. The manufacturing and construction (28 percent), agriculture and fisheries (20 percent) and mining (10 percent) have much smaller shares.[5]
Meanwhile, tourism contributes 4.5 percent to gross domestic product (as of 2007). More and more foreign direct investment has been focused on tourism. After the heavy industry and urban development, most foreign investment has been concentrated in tourism, especially in hotel projects .[6]
Vietnam government has taken many measures for promotion of tourism. Ministry of tourism provided incentives for converting normal hotels in luxury. Also an aggressive promotion of Vietnam tourism run on magazines and TV channels.[citation needed]
As of 2013, the Vietnam government has intended to invest no less than $94.2 billion towards its tourism infrastructure. Vietnam's tourism sector predicts 7.2 million international tourists and revenue of up to $9.1 billion for 2013