Achievements

On March 25, 2026, Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) released its QS World Rankings by Subject 2026. Notably, the tourism programs at Duy Tan University (DTU) were ranked 41st of the world.

DTU Tourism programs is ranked 41st of the world. Photo: courtesy of DTU

Strategic focus on tourism & hospitality education

In Danang, which is among the cities with strongest tourism development in Vietnam, training a high-quality tourism workforce plays a particularly important role.

From its early days, DTU determined that tourism & hospitality would be a training spearhead, alongside other disciplines.

Many years of strong international collaboration have played a pioneering role in building DTU’s strengths in tourism & hospitality training. Agreements signed between the early 2010s and 2016 with Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - consistently one of the top 50 institutions for economics and business administration in the US (according to U.S. News) and one of the world’s five best institutions for tourism training (according to UN Tourism) - led to high-quality PSU-standard programs at DTU:

-    Tourism & Hospitality Management,
-    Tourism & Travel Management, and
-    Tourism & Restaurant Operations Management

These programs have served as a foundation for elevating DTU’s majors in tourism, hospitality, and restaurant management and for the increase in the number of tourism students at DTU from a few hundred to several thousand, with sustained growth over many years.

Dr Cong Minh (first from the left, top) and his DTU research team with organizers

of the APacCHRIE 2025 conference, and receiving third prize at the APF-2025 best paper awards. Photo: courtesy of DTU

Dr Nguyen Cong Minh, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism during its early breakthrough period (2010–2015) and currently Head of the DTU Graduate School, made foundational contributions to international collaboration.

Dr Cong Minh still contributes actively to research in tourism & restaurant and represents Vietnam at the Asia–Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant, & Institutional Education or APacCHRIE.

“International collaboration is a key factor in improving the quality of tourism education,” Dr Cong Minh explains. “It expands perspectives and brings one closer to the world’s advanced education standards.

“Through advanced collaborative programs, academic exchanges, and partnerships with universities and enterprises around the world, DTU has gradually established its position, nurtured a highly skilled and high-quality workforce, and fostered integration.
 

“The effectiveness of this strategy has contributed to DTU’s tourism programs reaching the world’s top 50, namely 41st by QS.

“More than a milestone in ranking, this is testament to Vietnam’s capacity for training, research, and continuous innovation through its increasingly profound contributions to global tourism.”

After 2015, tourism training at DTU continued to affirm and strengthen its international presence with a focus on integration and sustainable development through the work of the South Korean Prof. Dr Lim Sang Taek, who served as provost of the Hospitality & Tourism Institute (HTi), upgraded from the old Faculty of Tourism.

Prof. Lim previously held the position of Chairman of the Asia- Pacific Tourism Association (APTA). His efforts, along with lecturers and students at the HTi, made DTU the first university in Vietnam to receive UNWTO TedQual accreditation for tourism in 2022.
Prof. Dr Lim Sang Taek (left) signing an agreement with Prof. Dr Kaye Chon, Dean of the School of Hotel & Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Photo: courtesy of DTU

Most recently on December 29, 2025, two programs - International Hotel Management and International Restaurant Operations Management - were reaccredited under UN Tourism TedQual (formerly UNWTO.TedQual). They achieved 789/845 points and satisfied 93% of all criteria - an improvement over the first accreditation cycle of July 8, 2022 with 771/845 points and 91.2% of criteria.

DTU’s new TedQual certification is valid for three years, from December 2025 to December 2028, which is the longest possible accreditation period.

The UN Tourism TedQual certification is clear evidence of DTU’s strong commitment to continuous improvement of its training programs and to updating them to the real-world demands of the tourism & service sector in the context of global integration.

International Hotel Management and International Restaurant Operations Management

achieved UN Tourism TedQual accreditation. Photo: courtesy of DTU

“The process of internationalization and accreditation to global standards are important and appropriate directions for the HTi,” Prof. Dr Lim Sang Taek, currently Dean of the DTU International School and still supporting tourism training at DTU, explains.
 

“This effective development strategy has created a competitive advantage and gives students in tourism & hospitality access to new knowledge, enhances their practical skills, and expands their career opportunities after graduation.
 

“By placing students at the center, DTU continuously strives to deliver the best value for their development.”

Three French exchange students at DTU with Dr Kim Luan (second from right). Photo: courtesy of DTU

Dr Bui Kim Luan, current Rector of the DTU Hospitality & Tourism Institute, continues building on the bold vision of the previous leaders by innovating in tourism training with a “Go Global” approach: strengthening partnerships with major global partners to implement student exchange and international internships, and to open pathways for students to grow into global citizens.

At the same time, the HTi continues to improve its practice facilities, which leads to rising positions in global rankings through research and international collaboration.

Comprehensive and diverse facilities for each tourism major at DTU. Photo: courtesy of DTU

“With its number one position in Vietnam and a global ranking of 41st in tourism & hospitality, the DTU Hospitality & Tourism Institute has been continuously working to deliver the best value to its students,” Dr Kim Luan affirms, “to continuously improve training quality to international standards, and to develop DTU students of tourism into global citizens.”

Prof. Dr Mo Chul Min, former Vice Minister of Culture, Sports, & Tourism of the Republic of Korea, served as provost of the HTi from 2022 to 2024. He connected DTU with leading South Korean corporations like Samsung, Hyundai, and Sebang Group, and with top institutions in South Korea, such as Seoul National University, Kyung Hee University, Sejong University, the ASEAN - Korea Center, and the Korea Tourism Organization in Vietnam. Prof. Mo’s energy was like a breath of fresh air, igniting enthusiasm among staff, lecturers, and students during DTU’s breakthrough and its start of high global rankings in tourism. Photo: courtesy of DTU

Currently, the DTU Hospitality & Tourism Institute is a member of prestigious international organizations:

    UN Tourism (United Nations)
    APTA (Asia–Pacific Tourism Association)
    PATA (Pacific–Asia Travel Association)
    AMFORHT (World Association for Hospitality & Tourism Education & Training)

The HTi also places strong emphasis on maintaining a global network of industry partners, which facilitates participation of DTU students in internship programs at leading corporations and destinations worldwide, such as Marriott hotels in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Disneyland, Marriott Doha (Qatar), tourism & hospitality enterprises in Singapore, and VietJet Air - opening up extensive global opportunities for learning, experience, and career development.

(Media Center)