Hospitality higher education in Vietnam: Voices from stakeholders

Abstract The tourism sector has become an increasingly important driver of growth and prosperity for many countries. Given the comparatively low contribution of the tourism sector to the economy in Vietnam, an in-depth exploration of industry aspects is worthwhile to consider. This study explored factors influencing effective hospitality higher education in Vietnam that support the on-going development of the industry through the availability of quality human resources. The study involved 26 in-depth interviews with industry professionals, hospitality academics, and hospitality undergraduate students. Three factors were identified, including (1) the current employment demand in the Vietnamese hospitality industry, (2) the suitability of hospitality programs in preparation for hospitality careers, and (3) the reality of Vietnamese hospitality workplaces for higher education students. The findings of this study provide insights into the current status of hospitality higher education in Vietnam, and offer evidence-based insights into key factors influencing contributions of higher education to an expanding hospitality industry.