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| Hanoi City Tour bus (Source: VNA) |
The list features Hanoi in at 83rd, while Ho Chi Minh City is slightly higher at 76th.
Hanoi boasts an array of rich tourism resources, including nearly 6,000 historical and cultural relic sites and roughly 1,800 intangible cultural heritage elements. These include places such as the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, the Temple of Literature, the Old Quarter - Hoan Kiem Lake, Hai Ba Trung (Trung Sisters) Temple, Soc Temple, Thay Pagoda, and Tay Phuong Pagoda.
It is also home to the country’s largest number of craft villages, including famous ones like Bat Trang Pottery Village, Van Phuc Silk Village, Ha Thai Lacquer Village, and Quat Dong Embroidery Village.
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| Foreign tourists to Ho Chi Minh City (Source: laodong.vn) |
Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is also home to a number of historic sights, including the Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, a neo-Romanesque and Gothic cathedral built by French colonists back in the late 1800s. Other places around the southern metropolis include the Cu Chi Tunnels and the War Remnants Museum.
The city is also very fast-paced, with a bustling nightlife and delicious local cuisine on offer for visitors to enjoy.
Paris of France topped the list for the fourth consecutive time, followed by Madrid of Spain and Tokyo of Japan.
The list also saw the presence of many Asian countries, including Singapore at ninth globally, Seoul of the Republic of Korea at 12th globally, and Bangkok of Thailand at 17th globally.
Euromonitor International’s top 100 city destinations index 2024, produced in partnership with data company Lighthouse, delivers actionable insights into the performance, appeal, and potential of different urban markets. It compares 55 metrics across six key pillars for 100 city destinations in order to create an overall city attractiveness score.
The six key pillars include economic and business performance, tourism performance, tourism infrastructure, tourism policy and attractiveness, health and safety, and sustainability.
Asia constitutes 80% of foreign arrivals in Vietnam
Nearly 80% of foreign arrivals in Vietnam so far this year hailed from Asia, with a significant 60% coming from the Republic of Korea (RoK), China, Taiwan (China), and Japan, reported the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism on December 6, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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| Foreign visitors to Binh Tay market in HCM City (Photo: VNA) |
About 1.7 million foreigners came to Vietnam in November, marking a 20.5% month-on-month and 38.8% annual increase, turning November into the most successful month for tourism this year.
Over the first 11 months, Vietnam welcomed more than 15.8 million foreign tourists, reflecting an impressive 41% annual growth. The RoK topped the list with 4.1 million visitors, accounting for 26.1% of total foreign arrivals. China followed closely with 3.3 million visitors (21.2%), while Taiwan (China) recorded 1.1 million. Other key markets included the US (706,000), Japan (656,000), India, Malaysia, Australia, Cambodia, and Thailand.
These figures underscore the pivotal role of Northeast Asian markets in driving Vietnam's international tourism growth. Southeast Asian markets also showed promising performance, with notable increases from Indonesia (up 78.3%), the Philippines (69.8%), Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and Singapore.
European markets likewise saw significant growth in visitors to Vietnam, including the UK (up 20.4%), France (30.5%), Germany (24.1%), Italy (57.4%), Spain (23.8%), Russia (82.4%), Denmark (20.2%), Norway (17.8%), and Sweden (25.2%). This growth can be attributed to Vietnam’s policy of granting unilateral visa exemptions to nationals from these countries, allowing them to stay in Vietnam for up to 45 days, a measure introduced on August 15, 2023.
According to the General Statistics Office, nearly 13.4 million foreigners arrived by air, accounting for 84.5% of the total and marking a 36.4% annual rise. Over 2.2 million visitors entered Vietnam by land, representing a 67.4% growth, while 221,000 others arrived by sea.
Tourism revenue for the first 11 months is estimated at 57.5 trillion VND (2.3 billion USD), reflecting a 17.3% hike compared to the same period last year. This success is attributed to local tourism promotion efforts that have been in full swing since early this year.
Adding to the momentum, the Ha Long International Cruise Port welcomed over 2,800 foreign passengers aboard the 5-star luxury cruiser Celebrity Solstice on December 6. The following day, a group of elite French tourists is set to explore the breathtaking Ha Long Bay and the vibrant city of Hanoi. With this, Vietnam's tourism sector is on track to meet its 2024 target of welcoming some 17 - 18 million foreigners.
International tourist arrivals to Hanoi rise by 36.8% in 11-month period
According to the Voice of Vietnam, Hanoi served nearly 5.8 million holidaymakers during the January to November period, including more than four million international tourists, up 28.4% and 36.8% compared to the same period from last year, respectively.
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| Tourists to Hanoi (Source: VOV) |
Total revenue from tourism activities throughout the reviewed period stood at an estimated VND99.949 billion, marking an annual increase of 17.8%.
The capital welcomed 677,000 arrivals in November alone, up 13.8% against October and 26% compared to the same month from last year, including 495,000 foreign arrivals. The city’s total tourism revenue hit VND9.593 billion, marking an increase of 20.2% from November, 2023.
During the remainder of the year, the city will promote fresh tourism products aimed at attracting more tourists.
Quang Ninh province targets 20 million tourists in 2025
The northern province of Quang Ninh is estimated to attract 19 million visitors in 2024, marking a 20% increase from the previous year and fully meeting its target, reported Vietnam News Agency.
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Quang Ninh province expects to serve 20 million tourists in 2025. (Photo: VNA)
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This figure includes 3.5 million international tourists. Revenues from tourism reach 46.46 trillion VND (more than 1.8 billion USD), representing a 38% rise compared to 2023.
To achieve its goal of welcoming 20 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million foreign visitors, the province has prioritised sustainable tourism development. Key strategies include improving service quality, diversifying tourism products, and expanding travel destinations.
In 2024, the province introduced 67 new tourism products, with 38 already launched. Notable additions include Carnaval Ha Long 2024, The Lighthouse Entertainment Complex, Wyndham Garden Sonasea Resort in Van Don, and Angsana Quan Lan Ha Long Bay Hotel. Luxury yacht services and the "Heritage Journey" tour series also drew significant interest.
The province approved 21 new routes for Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay tours, while 29 more products are scheduled to be launched by year-end. Efforts to strengthen ties with international cruise operators and establish direct flights from China and the Republic of Korea to Van Don International Airport have also been prioritised. Indian is a growing market, with notable visits from high-profile groups.
In the coming time, Quang Ninh plans to increase tourism revenue by promoting its iconic attractions such as Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay, and Yen Tu national relic site. The province’s approach includes extensive marketing campaigns, boosting service competitiveness, and targeting both domestic and international markets to solidify its status as a premier tourist destination./.