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Foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam nearly reach 10 million. (Photo: NDO)
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According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), in July, international tourist arrivals to Vietnam reached 1.15 million, up 10.9% over the same period last year.
In the first 7 months of the year, international tourists to the country totalled nearly 10 million, up 51% over the same period last year and up 1.9% over the same period in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the total, tourists arriving by air reached 8.4 million, accounting for 84.2%, up 45.1% over the same period last year, while those by road posted 1.4 million, accounting for 14.1%, up 84.2%; by sea, 165,500, accounting for 1.7%, three times higher than the same period last year.
The Republic of Korea continued to be the largest market sending tourists to Vietnam with nearly 2.6 million arrivals, accounting for 26% of the total. China ranked second with 2.1 million arrivals, accounting for 21.4% of the total. Thus, these two countries have contributed nearly half of the international tourist arrivals to Vietnam.
Taiwan (China), the United States, Japan, Malaysia, Australia, India, Cambodia and Thailand were the next largest markets sending tourists to Vietnam.
In terms of growth drivers, most markets have recorded stable growth. Asia increased by 57% with the main driving force from large markets in the Northeast Asia region such as China (up 190%), the Republic of Korea (up 37%) and Japan (up 34%).
Countries in the Southeast Asia region also achieved good growth, typically Indonesia (up 107%), the Philippines (up 58%) and Cambodia (up 15%). Only the Thai market decreased by 14.5%.
According to the GSO, favorable visa policies, tourism promotion and promotion programs in 2024 promoted by localities across the country have attracted a fairly high number of international visitors to Vietnam compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam imports over 360,000 tons of fertilizer from Russia
Russia is the second largest fertilizer supplier to Vietnam in the first half of 2024 with 362,326 tons, worth more than 164 million USD, up 430% in volume and 355% in value over the same period last year.
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| Fertilizer imports to Vietnam in June reached 455,858 tons, worth over 154 million USD. (Photo: congthuong.vn) |
According to preliminary statistics from the General Department of Customs, fertilizer imports to Vietnam in June reached 455,858 tons, worth over 154 million USD, down 14.3% in volume and down 12.7% in value from the previous month. Average import price reached 338 USD per ton, up 2% from the previous month.
In the first six months of the year, the country imported more than 2.5 million tons of fertilizer, valued at over 838 million USD, up 52% in volume and up 42.3% in value compared to the same period in 2023.
In terms of market, Vietnam imported the most fertilizer from China with 1.03 million tons, worth more than 295 million USD, up 21% in volume and up 8% in value compared to the same period last year. Average import price reached 286 USD a ton, down 10.8% in value.
Notably, Russia is increasing its exports of this item into Vietnam and has become the second largest supplier with 362,326 tons, worth more than 164 million USD, up 430% in volume and up 355% in value compared to the same period last year. Average import price reached 452 USD a ton, up 14%.
In 2023, Vietnam imported 288,727 tons of fertilizer from Russia, equivalent to more than 132 million USD. Thus, in the first half of the year, the volume of fertilizer imports from Russia exceeded the total output in 2023.
Laos ranked third among Vietnam’s fertilizer suppliers in the period with 172,446 tons, worth more than 45 million USD, up 60% in volume and up 6% in value compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam promotes tourism combined with cinema in the US
The program, themed “Vietnam - New destination of world cinema”, aims to promote tourist destinations and potential filming locations, and attract Hollywood film studios to Vietnam.
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| Photo for illustration. (Source: VNAT) |
After more than 3 months since the idea of organizing a program to promote Vietnamese tourism combined with cinema in the US was widely announced, the program has initially come true with the plan just signed by Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong.
It has received the attention of organizations and businesses with expectations to contribute to promoting cooperation and development of tourism and cinema when promising to attract the participation of many large organizations and businesses from Vietnam and the US.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the program will take place in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 in San Francisco and Los Angeles and California, including a series of diverse activities, linking tourism promotion with cinema, culture and cuisine.
Along with units from Vietnam, the program will be attended by a number of tourism and film organizations, large tourism corporations and businesses, media corporations, airlines, cruise lines and related partners from the US.
The event is expected to attract American visitors to Vietnam, striving to achieve the goal of welcoming 1.3 million American visitors in 2028 and putting the US in the top three markets sending visitors to Vietnam.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the US was among the top five markets sending international tourists to Vietnam, with long stays and high spending.
Hoi An basket boat ride ranked among world’s most exciting experiences
The basket boat experience in Cam Thanh coconut forest, Hoi An city, the central coastal province of Quang Nam, ranked 19th in the top 25 most attractive boat experiences for tourists worldwide in 2024.
According to the Quang Nam Tourism Promotion Center, the world’s leading tourism review organization Tripadvisor has just announced the list of the top 25 most exciting boat travel experiences in 2024 within the framework of the annual Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Things to Do award.
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| Tourists love to experience the basket boat in Cam Thanh coconut forest, Hoi An. (Photo: toquoc.vn) |
According (Quang ly, the basket boat experience in Cam Thanh coconut forest, Hoi An city ranked 19th in the top 25 most attractive boat experiences for tourists worldwide in 2024. The list of the most interesting experiences is based on reviews and opinions collected from the user community over a 12-month period.
This experience is described by tourists with excitement: “Ride a basket boat in Hoi An to enjoy the surroundings. Drift along the picturesque canals, say ‘hello’ to the locals, and hear about the history from your guide. Don’t miss the chance to immerse yourself in the local community, participate in basket boat spinning and sing karaoke.”
Among the 25 most interesting boat experiences, there are other Vietnamese experiences such as kayaking to explore Lan Ha Bay, the northern city of Hai Phong and Ha Long Bay, the northern province of Quang Ninh.
Pakistan – Vietnam’s largest tea export market
Pakistan is Vietnam’s largest tea export market with 16,072 tons, down 13% in volume compared to the same period last year.
According to data from the General Department of Customs, in the first half of 2024, Vietnam exported tea to 18 markets. Pakistan is Vietnam’s largest tea export market with 16,072 tons, a decrease of 13% in volume compared to the same period last year. This is also the only market with an export volume of over 10,000 tons of tea.
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| Pakistan is Vietnam’s largest tea export market in the first six months of 2024. (Photo: congthuong.vn) |
Taiwan (China) came second with 6,762 tons, up 10% over the same period last year. China is the third largest market with 6,304 tons, up 207% over the same period last year.
Other major markets include the US with 4,053 tons, up 62%, and Indonesia with 4,831 tons, up 69%.
In the ASEAN bloc, in addition to Indonesia, Vietnam also exported tea to Malaysia with 2,862 tons, up 35% year on year, and the Philippines with 362 tons, down 26%.
In terms of turnover, the value of tea exports to Pakistan was the highest at 33.6 million USD, down 3% year on year; followed by Taiwan (China) with 11.3 million USD, up 14%.
In terms of price, Germany had the highest average tea export price at 5,360 USD per ton, followed by the Philippines at 2,651 USD per ton and Saudi Arabia at 2,608 USD per ton./.