As the leading Hospitality and Tourism education association within the Asia-Pacific Region, APacCHRIE (The Asia-Pacific Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education) brings together more than 70 universities from 18 countries across Asia. Most recently, Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh, a DTU lecturer, has become the first Vietnamese member of APacCHRIE.
APacCHRIE operates under International CHRIE (ICHRIE), a non-profit academic organization with a mission to enhance the quality of education, research, and business practices in hospitality, tourism, and food & beverage (F&B) industries. Through conferences, academic journals, exchange programs and internship opportunities, ICHRIE carries out various specialized initiatives across its seven regional branches worldwide, including APacCHRIE (Asia-Pacific), EuroCHRIE (Europe, Middle East, Africa), and various branches in the USA, the Middle East, and North Africa.
Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh (far left) poses for a photo with the leadership of APacCHRIE at the Council meeting in Bangkok, Thailand
ICHRIE members come from many prestigious universities offering Tourism programs, such as:
• Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand)
• Purdue University (USA)
• Temple University (USA)
• Texas A&M University (USA)
• Pennsylvania State University (USA)
• University of Central Florida (USA)
• University of Nevada, Las Vegas (USA)
• Ecole Hotelière de Lausanne (Switzerland)
• Ecole Superieure Internationale de Savignac (France)
• University of Surrey (United Kingdom)
• Chiang Mai University (Thailand)
• National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism (Taiwan)
• Hong Kong Polytechnic University (China)
• University of Macau (China)
Having been officially approved as a member of APacCHRIE and recognized as Vietnam’s representative within the organization, Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh attended the annual APacCHRIE Board Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, in January 2025. He participates in the APacCHRIE 2025 Conference, scheduled for May 2025 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, with various activities aimed at fostering connectivity and sustainable development in Tourism and Hospitality education. This milestone marks a proud achievement in Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh’s journey to position Vietnam’s tourism education on the global map.
Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh on the member introduction page of APacCHRIE
Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh earned his Ph.D. in Tourism and Hospitality from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), one of the top universities for Tourism education worldwide and in Asia, specifically:
- Ranked 1st in the world according to the Shanghai Ranking 2024,
- Ranked 1st in Asia according to the QS Ranking 2025.
Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh has been a DTU dedicated member since 2009, holding various leadership and management roles within the Faculty of Business Administration, the Faculty of International Education, and the Faculty of Tourism. He currently serves as the Head of the DTU Graduate School.
Throughout his career, Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh has made significant contributions to Tourism education, mentoring many generations of students while actively contributing to academic research. His scholarly work has been published in prestigious ISI-indexed journals, including the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Journal of Tourism Insights, and Anatolia - International Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Research.
At the 43rd Annual Conference of the International Society of Travel & Tourism Educators (ISTTE) 2024, Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh was awarded the Best Case Study Award for his research on "Strategic Influencer Marketing to Affluent Millennials."
Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh with Prof. Dr. Lawrence Hoc Nang Fong (University of Macau) - President of APacCHRIE (left photo) and Prof. Dr. Kaye Chon - Founder of APacCHRIE, Dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Through his efforts in the field of Tourism, Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh has made significant contributions to training human resources for the Tourism industry and participated in several important projects, such as:
- Member of the "Development of Da Nang City's Tourism Brand 2013" project, a collaboration between Da Nang's Tourism Promotion Center and DTU.
- The "Development of Entertainment Services in Da Nang City from 2015 to 2020, with a vision toward 2030" project, a collaboration between Da Nang's Department of Tourism and DTU.
- Member of two research projects funded by the National Research Foundation of Korea, involving professors from Seoul National University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, and Indiana University.
Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh (far left, bottom row) with the leadership and
members of the APacCHRIE Council meeting in Bangkok, January 2025
Also, Dr. Minh has also coordinated several major events in the Tourism industry, including:
- The International Conference on Tourism & Hotel Development in Da Nang (2014)
- The World Cultural Tourism Conference (2015)
- The Tourism Job Fair (2015-2017)
- The Hoi An International Food Festival (2016-2018)
- The Cao Lau Challenge Competition 2019
- The International Culinary Tourism Forum at DTU (2018)
The modern and synchronized investment in infrastructure is providing maximum support for teaching and learning in Tourism at DTU.
The efforts made by many DTU faculty members, including Dr. Nguyen Cong Minh, have yielded significant results, helping DTU become one of the leading institutions for Tourism education both domestically and internationally. The university has two programs accredited by the TedQual Certification of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):
- International Hotel Management (PSU standard)
- International Restaurant Management (PSU standard)
Recently, DTU Tourism & Leisure Management field was ranked in the Top 51-100 worldwide according to the QS World Rankings by Subjects 2025. Vietnamese universities appeared in 25 out of 55 individual subjects, with three universities in the top 100.
DTU Tourism is ranked in the Top 51-100 worldwide according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
DTU's presence in the APacCHRIE provides numerous international networking opportunities, alongside strengthening the university's academic standing in the field of Tourism:
- Connecting with a network of leading experts and scholars worldwide,
- Access to high-quality research, publications, and academic conferences,
- Expanding research collaboration with top universities,
- Contributing to the development of education and professional practices in developing countries.
These efforts create favorable conditions for both DTU faculty and students to continue striving for high-quality training and workforce development, contributing to raising the status of Vietnam's Tourism and Tourism Education on the global map.
(Media Center)