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| Hoi An is a favorite destination for many Asian tourists. (Photo: Nhan Dan) |
Ranked in second position is China with nearly 890,000 arrivals, 6.4 times higher than the same period in 2023. Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, and India are also in the top 10 markets with the largest source of visitors to Vietnam in the first quarter of this year.
In general, the total number of international visitors to Vietnam in the first quarter of 2024 reached and exceeded the same period in 2019. The Indian market reached more than 300% compared to the time before the COVID-19 pandemic; Cambodia, 335%; Indonesia, 188%; and Singapore, 122%.
Surveying booking data on the system, travel platform Agoda said that Korean tourists are "falling in love" with Vietnam's wonderful coastal cities and resort islands with fine sand beaches and clear and blue water.
Accordingly, Korean tourists favor the top four destinations of Da Nang, Nha Trang, Hoi An and Phu Quoc. These are all famous locations with beautiful beaches, luxury resorts and many attractive tourist activities. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City is ranked 5th on the list of most popular Vietnamese destinations for Korean tourists.
"The appeal of Vietnam's beaches to international tourists is undeniable. They love to travel to vibrant coastal towns and cities with stretching beautiful white beaches. From ancient Hoi An to tropical Phu Quoc island, or energetic Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam offers a diverse picture of experiences that Korean visitors particularly favour, which is clearly illustrated by Agoda's tourism data for the past quarter," shared Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, Vietnam Country Director at Agoda.
Mr. Truong Duc Hai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hon Ngoc Vien Dong Tourism Company, said that Cambodian tourists come to Vietnam mainly for business, medical examination and tourism.
"Previously, most Cambodian tourists to Vietnam went to Tay Ninh to visit Ba Den Mountain. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, many Cambodian tourists still go to Ha Tien, and then they take the train to Phu Quoc. The pearl island is currently a favorite destination for Cambodian tourists," Mr. Hai said.
According to the Cambodian press, in addition to Phu Quoc, Cambodian tourists also love the coastal city of Da Nang, the ancient town of Hoi An, Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Vung Tau.
Last week, an article in the India Times said: "Vietnam is the precious gem of Southeast Asia. Tourists can explore the bustling streets of Hanoi, take a boat through the beautiful limestone mountains on the Ha Long Bay or relax on the beautiful beaches of Da Nang and Nha Trang. With affordable accommodation, delicious street food for under 100 rupees (about 30,000 VND) and cheap transportation options such as buses and domestic railways, Vietnam is a paradise for budget travel."
Also last week, Indonesia's Tempo newspaper published information about Vietnam's tourism industry growing strongly and that Vietnam is also an increasingly popular destination for Indonesian people, as the number of Indonesian tourists to Vietnam increased 188% in the first quarter compared to the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assessing Vietnam's potential and rapidly developing tourism market, Tempo said that Asia has become Vietnam's main tourism market. In addition, Vietnam is increasing the number of direct flights to Southeast Asian countries. The newspaper also said that the number of Indian tourists coming to Vietnam increased while many Indian billionaires rented luxury resorts in Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Ha Long to hold their weddings. Australians also travel more to Vietnam thanks to cheap airfares and new direct flights from this country to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Many Indonesian travel companies evaluate Vietnam as a potential market to exploit.
"I think the two countries have many opportunities to promote tourism because of cultural and food similarities. Many Indonesians look forward to traveling and learning about Vietnamese culture," shared Mr. Abie Nugroho, Marketing Director of LCM Travel Agency in Jakarta.
Explaining the reason for the strong growth of international visitors to Vietnam, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh shared that the number of international visitors recovered strongly thanks to the effectiveness of favorable visa policies and effective tourism promotion programs.
A positive and encouraging start right in the first quarter of this year will be the premise and motivation for Vietnam's tourism industry to strive to achieve the goal of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors in the whole year of 2024./.