Talking about Travel in Vietnam: General Manager of Nikko Saigon Says No Sense of Danger

Reported by Chen Tzu-yin / Taipei

Nearly a month has passed since the May 13 anti-China incident in Vietnam, which has directly impacted the tourism industry. Regarding the current state of Vietnam’s tourism market, Fujimoto Chiyo, General Manager of Nikko Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, said during his visit to Taiwan on the 4th: “The situation on the ground has fully returned to normal, and I have sensed no danger whatsoever.”

Fujimoto further explained that the tourism sector was indeed affected by the incident, with a significant number of tour groups from Taiwan and mainland China canceling their bookings. However, corporate and business travel groups have long since returned to normal, and tour groups are gradually recovering as well. He assured travelers that there are no safety concerns. Following the incident, Nikko Saigon Hotel experienced an overall drop of 20–30% in occupancy, but even as the aftermath continues to ripple, the hotel expects local occupancy rates to fully recover by August or September.

Fujimoto also noted that Taiwanese guests originally made up about 15% of Nikko Saigon Hotel’s clientele, with Japanese guests accounting for 40%, Koreans for 10%, and the remainder from Europe, America, and other countries. The Vietnamese government’s tourism authority is actively working to attract more visitors from Taiwan and Japan and has begun planning itineraries tailored to those markets. The government recognizes and values the importance of the Taiwanese market, and Fujimoto believes Taiwanese travelers need not be overly concerned.


▲ Fujimoto Chiyo, General Manager of Nikko Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, believes the local tourism situation has fully recovered and is safe. (Photo / Reporter Chen Tzu-yin)