On March 18, 2025, Meet The Experts (MTE), the largest annual conference on real estate and resort in the region, took place at Autograph Collection Hotel (HCMC) organized by WeHub, Savills Hotels and partners.
With the theme "Towards a New Development Cycle", the conference gathered more than 50 speakers and more than 1,000 senior personnel, including representatives from investors, hotel owners, management units, leading design and consulting companies in the Real Estate and Resort industry. The conference once again affirmed its role as a platform to connect units in the industry, as well as update professional knowledge, a place to exchange strategic perspectives and practical solutions to support the Vietnamese Real Estate & Resort industry to prepare for a new development cycle.
Vietnam's tourism industry has had a promising year of growth, a result of many factors such as a relaxed visa policy, improved tourism infrastructure and effective marketing strategies from local authorities and businesses. This cooperation has helped Vietnam increasingly affirm its position as a safe and friendly destination on the international tourism map. In the first two months of 2025 alone, Vietnam welcomed nearly 4 million international visitors, an increase of 30% over the same period last year and the highest growth rate in the region.
Mr. Mauro Gasparotti, Senior Director, Savills Hotels Southeast Asia and founder of the MTE conference series, shared: “Vietnam's hospitality industry has had a strong year, with international arrivals recovering to pre-pandemic levels. Average hotel room occupancy rates across the country have improved by 15 percentage points, while room rates have also increased by 5%, mainly due to strong growth in the luxury segment. In 2024, key coastal destinations such as Nha Trang - Cam Ranh continue to record outstanding growth (125%) in the number of international arrivals compared to the previous year. Phu Quoc also recorded a tourism boom in the final months of the year, thanks to the increase in direct international flights. This growth trend is expected to continue, especially as Phu Quoc prepares to host the APEC Summit 2027, affirming its position as a global destination."
Mr. Mauro Gasparotti, Senior Director, Savills Hotels Southeast Asia. Source: WeHub
“Vietnam’s tourism industry is changing rapidly, with the emergence of new business models, brands and resorts. Trends such as branded residences, luxury real estate, sky bars, beach clubs, wellness retreats and all-inclusive resorts are increasingly being developed, helping to meet the diverse needs of many customer segments and contributing to the development of tourist destinations. In addition, technological factors such as artificial intelligence (AI) are predicted to revolutionize the tourism industry, helping to optimize operational processes and personalize experiences for visitors. These innovations will drive the next phase of development of the real estate and resort industry in Vietnam, attracting leading brands and shaping the future of the industry. This is the right time to review models for a new long-term development cycle,” Mr. Mauro added.
Market focus and prominent trends
At the event, speakers from STR CoStar, VinaCapital, Savills Hotels, Minor Hotels and CMV Architects provided in-depth analysis of the business performance of Vietnam's resort industry compared to the region, as well as shared real estate development strategies from an investor's perspective. In addition, speakers also introduced successful models in foreign markets and their potential applications in Vietnam such as complex resort and all-inclusive resort models.
During the discussion session on the Vietnamese resort market, senior representatives from Accor Hotels Group, Masterise Group, SonKim Land, Sovico Hospitality Group, Minor Hotels, M Village, Fusion Hotel Group and Club Med discussed the trends driving the market and future growth opportunities. The speakers particularly emphasized the increasing demand for new hotel models such as limited service hotels, all-inclusive resorts and lifestyle hotels, suggesting the development trends of the tourism industry and opportunities for investors.
Ms. Uyen Nguyen, Deputy Director, Savills Hotels Southeast Asia, shared: “Infrastructure development has a significant impact on shaping the future of the Vietnamese resort market. In 2025, in the aviation sector alone, the country is planning to expand 5 airports – Cat Bi, Vinh, Dong Hoi, Ca Mau and Phu Quoc – to improve operational capacity, thereby helping to enhance connectivity and increase the number of tourists.
In Ho Chi Minh City, it is expected that after the first phase of Long Thanh International Airport and the connecting metro system come into operation, accessibility for both domestic and international tourists will be significantly improved. This will not only promote longer stays but also increase demand for hotels in non-central areas, while enhancing the attractiveness of Ho Chi Minh City for MICE tourism. Hotels located near metro stations will benefit from the increased demand for accommodation, thereby promoting the development of new projects in locations with convenient connections to the metro system, especially selected service hotel models and lifestyle hotel models. In addition, more convenient transport infrastructure also creates opportunities for the luxury hotel segment to expand to other areas outside the central area of District 1".
Ultra-luxury Real Estate Prospects 2025
At the MTE conference, experts from Savills, QUO, Group GSA and Gamuda Land shared their professional perspectives on the strong growth of branded residences and luxury real estate in Vietnam in recent times. With Vietnam increasingly being seen as a more upscale destination, investors need to carefully consider many factors in the project planning process, including brand value, price appreciation expectations, the integration of luxury interior design and wellness elements into the project.
“Today’s Branded Residence buyers are not just looking for property ownership or a brand, they are looking for a complete lifestyle solution. To meet this demand, developers need to integrate wellness elements, sustainable design and high-quality services, which are increasingly becoming essential standards in the luxury real estate segment. Projects that do not meet these standards can affect customer confidence as well as the Branded Residence product category,” said Mr. Mauro.
Investment Prospects
Vietnam’s real estate and resort sector continues to maintain strong interest, especially from Asian investors and family offices. However, despite high demand, transaction volume remains limited as many projects have complex ownership structures, or are entangled in legal procedures, causing lengthy negotiations. Projects with prime locations in major city centers with convenient transport infrastructure are still the top priority for investors thanks to their potential for long-term value growth and the ability to generate stable operating cash flow.
MTE HCMC 2025 Conference. Source: WeHub
During the real estate market panel, senior representatives from Savills Vietnam, Lodgis Hospitality, Ares Management, Indochina Capital, Kusto Home, SC Capital and Group GSA provided insights into regional investment flows and discussed the important role of foreign investors in reshaping the Vietnamese real estate and hospitality market. The panel highlighted that to further drive the market, strategic partnerships and regulatory improvements are needed to ensure sustainable growth and bolster investor confidence.
With the legal framework and important infrastructure projects gradually being completed (such as Long Thanh International Airport and the expansion of the metro system), experts at the MTE conference all had a positive view on the investment potential of the Vietnamese real estate and resort market in the coming time.
