Vietnam is expanding its infrastructure to host large-scale events in the international MICE and destination wedding markets. The development of luxury accommodation, convention facilities and entertainment offerings across the country's coastal and island destinations is creating new opportunities, particularly for high-spending international groups. A seven-day Indian wedding hosted by Vinpearl at Phu Quoc United Center in December 2025 illustrates the scale these events have reached. The seven-day, seven-night wedding celebration of an Indian billionaire family welcomed more than 1,130 international guests. The event involved over 1,000 direct personnel, alongside 1,200 staff from partners and contractors. Guests arrived on four round-trip charter flights and eight private jets, while approximately 40 Indian performers took part in the celebrations. Event venues were continuously transformed to accommodate different cultural ceremonies, adding to the operational complexity of the event.
In an exclusive interview with IMWF Insider, Vinpearl CEO Ngo Thi Huong highlighted the challenges of managing different traditions within a single multicultural wedding, stating, "The greatest challenge in a multicultural wedding is understanding each family's traditions, ceremonies and individual wishes, while maintaining consistent service quality throughout an event that may span several days. Behind every celebration are simultaneous demands involving specialized cuisine, venue transformations for different rituals, separate schedules for different guest groups, technical production, logistics and almost round-the-clock support."
Explaining that Vinpearl works closely with international wedding planners and event management companies from the earliest planning stages for events of this scale, Huong said, "Our role goes beyond providing venues and services. We bring partners together and draw on a deep understanding of guests' needs to weave elements of Vietnamese culture into each celebration in ways that reflect the family's preferences. To me, true excellence is not simply about scale or extravagance, but about turning complex requirements into a seamless, highly personal experience."
Nearly 18,000 Rooms Across 36 Hotels and Resorts
Vinpearl's nationwide accommodation network enables large-scale international events to be held across different destinations in Vietnam. The company's current portfolio comprises 36 hotels and resorts with nearly 18,000 rooms. These properties operate within an integrated ecosystem connected to convention centers, theaters, theme parks, retail destinations and golf courses. Emphasizing that venue capacity alone is not sufficient for international events, Huong said, "For a major international event, having a sufficiently large venue is only the starting point. The real challenge is ensuring that accommodation, meeting facilities, dining, technical services, transportation, entertainment and service quality all work seamlessly for thousands of guests. Vinpearl's advantage lies in both the scale of its infrastructure and its ability to coordinate operations throughout the entire guest journey."
The Crystal Ballroom at Vinpearl Convention Center in Nha Trang can accommodate approximately 2,400 guests in theater-style seating. Located within the resort complex on Hon Tre Island, the venue allows meeting and accommodation programs for large groups to be planned together. Meanwhile, the nearly 11,000-square-meter convention center at Phu Quoc United Center serves multi-day international events, while Vinpearl Resort & Spa Ha Long, located on Reu Island in Ha Long, is positioned particularly for exclusive events and luxury weddings requiring greater privacy.
Highlighting the importance of operational integration in accommodating events of different scales, Huong said, "Through our integrated ecosystem and operational teams, we can work with partners from initial concepts and program design through to on-the-ground execution, underpinned by five-star service standards, whether for an intimate gathering or a major international event."
VinPalace Offers Outdoor Event Capacity for 50,000 Guests
Alongside its existing property network, Vinpearl is expanding its event infrastructure through VinPalace, a dedicated brand for conventions, theaters and events. VinPalace Co Loa in Hanoi features a nearly 4,800-square-meter, column-free Grand Ballroom. With ceilings over seven meters high, the ballroom can accommodate almost 5,000 guests in theater-style seating, while the property's outdoor spaces can host events for up to 50,000 people.
Under the company's development plans, the Ha Long Xanh project is expected to include a complex of convention facilities, theaters and outdoor venues capable of accommodating events for up to 20,000 guests. The Can Gio project, planned for 2027, is another major investment in Vinpearl's large-scale event infrastructure. The Song Xanh Convention Center and Theater complex, planned across approximately seven hectares, will feature a 5,000-seat theater and a convention center for nearly 10,000 guests. The project is also expected to connect with the 122-hectare VinWonders theme park, two golf courses totaling 36 holes and a multi-brand accommodation portfolio.
Indian Guest Arrivals Surge 402%
India plays an important role in Vinpearl's growth across the international MICE and destination wedding markets. The number of Indian guests staying across the company's properties increased by 402% in 2025 compared with the previous year, followed by a 335% rise in the first four months of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.
Describing India as one of Vinpearl's priority markets, Huong said, "India is one of Vinpearl's key markets for MICE and destination weddings, alongside the Middle East, South Korea and Australia. We also see significant room for growth in European markets. These figures demonstrate both the market's potential and the early results of tailoring products to different customer segments."
Demand from international markets also shapes event programs and guest expectations. Indian weddings place particular emphasis on cultural rituals, traditional cuisine and multi-day celebrations involving several generations, while privacy and services catering to different age groups within families are increasingly important in the Middle Eastern market. Highlighting these differences, Huong said, "Indian guests value an understanding of cultural rituals and cuisine, multi-day programs and experiences that cater to several generations. For Middle Eastern guests, especially multigenerational families, an ideal holiday combines privacy, comfortable accommodation, culturally appropriate services and a variety of activities for adults and children alike. European guests tend to place greater emphasis on local authenticity, sustainability and opportunities for exploration, while corporate groups from South Korea and Australia value meticulous event delivery, convenient connections and meaningful team-bonding activities."
Huong noted that personalization and confidence in operational delivery are common priorities across different international markets, adding that Vinpearl collaborates with travel agencies, event organizers, wedding planners and distribution platforms from the earliest stages of product development.
Conferences and Weddings Evolve into Multi-Day Holiday Experiences
Vinpearl's event strategy places significant emphasis on bringing accommodation, convention facilities, entertainment, gastronomy and cultural experiences together within a single destination. This integrated approach offers different options, particularly for weddings attended by guests from multiple generations and corporate groups seeking to combine meeting programs with leisure activities. Explaining that an integrated resort model involves more than simply offering multiple services in one location, Huong said, "To me, the greatest value of an 'all-in-one' model is not simply having multiple services in one place, but connecting them into a seamless journey tailored to the event's objectives and each guest's needs. When the warmth of Vietnamese hospitality and consistent service quality extend throughout the ecosystem, a conference or wedding can become a multi-day getaway filled with memorable experiences."
Conference and wedding programs in Phu Quoc can be combined with visits to VinWonders, Vinpearl Safari, Vinpearl Golf and Grand World. On Hon Tre Island in Nha Trang, meeting programs can incorporate beach holidays, entertainment and sports activities. For corporate groups, meetings held in convention facilities can be planned alongside team-building activities and cultural performances within the same program.
Explaining that the model simplifies logistics and program management for event organizers, Huong said, "For event organizers, an integrated ecosystem simplifies scheduling and logistics while supporting quality control. For guests, it allows us to personalize details according to cultural backgrounds, preferences and program objectives, combining data and technology with the attentiveness of our service teams. In the longer term, this breadth of experiences also encourages visitors to arrive earlier, stay longer, spend more and generate wider benefits for local economies."
Personalization and Sustainability to Shape 2027
Vinpearl's future strategy focuses on developing destinations according to their individual characteristics and attracting higher-spending international groups to the events market. In its investments for 2027, the company is prioritizing projects that combine convention infrastructure with leisure, wellness, entertainment and cultural experiences. Emphasizing that competition in the MICE and destination wedding markets will no longer be determined solely by event size, Huong said, "I believe competition in MICE and destination weddings will increasingly center on the depth of the experience rather than scale alone. Three trends stand out: greater personalization for different guest segments; the combination of events with leisure, wellness and cultural experiences; and rising expectations around sustainability, technology and operational standards. Technology can improve program design and coordination, but people remain decisive in delivering service quality."
In line with this approach, Vinpearl is developing a mineral hot spring and wellness complex in My Lam, Tuyen Quang, scheduled to begin opening in phases in late 2026. The project will feature the 235-room Vinpearl Onsen Resort, authentic Japanese-style onsen experiences, an 18-hole golf course, VinWonders and wellness services. The property is expected to create opportunities for mid-sized conferences and executive gatherings combined with wellness and relaxation programs. Meanwhile, the Can Gio project, planned for development from 2027, is among the investments aimed at expanding Ho Chi Minh City's capacity to host major international events. In northern Vietnam, Ha Long Xanh is also being developed as a new MICE and destination wedding hub, combining large-scale event infrastructure with the destination's natural attractions.
Explaining that Vinpearl develops its investments around the distinctive characteristics of each destination rather than applying the same model everywhere, Huong said, "These three directions reflect our approach: rather than applying the same formula everywhere, we develop offerings that reflect each region's character and the needs of different customer segments."
APEC 2027, scheduled to take place in Phu Quoc, also plays an important role in Vinpearl's preparations for international events. The company aims to draw on the operational experience gained from hosting large-scale weddings and international MICE events to help strengthen Vietnam's capacity to host major gatherings. Emphasizing that Vietnam's opportunity extends beyond attracting more international events, Huong said, "Vietnam's opportunity is not merely to attract more international events, but to strengthen its hosting capabilities, reach high-value guest segments and create long-term growth for destination economies. To achieve this, Vinpearl remains committed to a long-term development strategy, stronger teams, operational discipline and collaboration with international partners."
