Hanoi (VNA) â Foreign arrivals to Vietnam reached more than 6.33 million in the first ten months of this year, a decrease of 4.1 percent year-on-year, announced the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on November 3. In October, the number of foreign visitors to the country increased 3.6 percent against the previous month and 16.1 percent compared to the same month last year. Tourist growth was seen in markets with visa exemptions, high spending and long stays such as the Republic of Korea, up 30.7 percent; Hong Kong, 28 percent; Singapore, 16.9 percent; Spain, 9.8 percent; Finland, 9.1 percent; and the US, 7.9 percent. Meanwhile, Cambodia posted a decrease of 43.9 percent in the number of holidaymakers to Vietnam, followed by Thailand and Laos with respective year-on-year drops of 22.9 percent and 22.2 percent. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City tourism has seen encouraging results over the past months. In the first three quarters, the capital posted a 13 percent year-on-year … [Read more...] about Vietnam welcomes over 6.33 million foreign tourists in 10 months
10 year tourist visa china
Best year ever: Vietnam greets 10 millionth tourist
Vietnam welcomed its 10 millionth foreign tourist of 2016 on Sunday afternoon, marking a booming tourism year that exceeded all expectations. Michael Tonge of the United Kingdom was greeted with flowers at Phu Quoc airport by central and local authorities. Tonge said he had seen many tourists return from Vietnam who were thrilled with its beautiful beaches and amazing food. Andrej Marek Balzer of Germany entered the country immediately after Tonge and also received a warm welcome. Last year, the country welcomed just 7.9 million tourists and expected just 8.5 million this year. Authorities are now celebrating the record arrivals, as well as the biggest annual improvement of all time – 26 percent. The industry made VND400 trillion ($17.6 billion), contributing 7.5 percent to the GDP and definitely offering one of the few bright spots in an economy that’s highly likely to miss its annual growth target. Tourism minister Nguyen Ngoc Thien attributed the strong growth to … [Read more...] about Best year ever: Vietnam greets 10 millionth tourist
Hanoi expects record 4 million foreign tourists this year
After its strong performance in first 10 months, Hanoi now expects foreign arrivals to increase 22.6 percent from 2015 to four million this year. Hanoi’s Tourism Department said the city attracted nearly 3.2 million foreign tourists in the first 10 months, up 23 percent from a year ago. Asian tourists from China, Japan and South Korea topped the list of arrivals, followed by travelers from Australia, Germany, France and the U.S. Tourism revenue in the first ten months reached VND50.7 trillion ($2.27 million), thanks also to more spending from 14.8 million Vietnamese tourists. The industry is projected to earn $2.8 billion from tourism, up 13 percent from 2015. Hanoi was among 20 fastest-growing tourist cities, with an average annual growth rate of 11.64 percent in foreign arrivals between 2009 and 2015, according to a MasterCard survey in September. The city has been making various efforts to attract more visitors. It opened a pedestrian-only zone around the iconic Sword … [Read more...] about Hanoi expects record 4 million foreign tourists this year
Chinese tourists remain key driver of Vietnam’s tourism boom
Arrivals from China in January increased 67.9 percent from a year ago, accounting for a quarter of Vietnam’s total international tourist number, according to the General Statistics Office. The country welcomed more than 1 million foreign visitors in the first month of 2017, a 23.6 percent increase, official data showed. Nearly 70 percent of the arrivals were from Asian countries. China continued to maintain its place as the biggest feeder market with a record high 247,621 visitors. The number of Chinese tourists hit 2.5 million last year, out of the total 10 million visitors, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Vietnam’s proximity to China has made it a popular destination to many Chinese who want a vacation overseas without a long haul journey. Most Chinese tourists come in through northern border provinces, particularly Quang Ninh, home of the famous Ha Long Bay, arguably the country’s top sightseeing attraction. Quang Ninh has recently … [Read more...] about Chinese tourists remain key driver of Vietnam’s tourism boom
Chinese tourist influx to Ha Long Bay brings smiles, grimaces
However, over the last weekends, the number of visitors passing Mong Cai spiked to 15,000 a day, with Chinese arrivals accounting for up to 70 percent. On the morning of March 25, a 45-seater tour bus was spotted every two to three minutes at Tuan Chau International Port in Ha Long City, the province’s capital city. Most of the excursionists were from China. In less than three hours, more than 250 orders were issued to tourist ships to dock and cater to 5,000 tourists. The crowds even bulged toward noon. The waiting lounge teemed with commotion and dialog, mostly in Chinese. The parking lot was packed with more than one hundred 45-seater buses carrying Chinese tourists. As observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, most travel firms chose Bai Chay Resort as their guests’ rest stop. Groups of Chinese tourists are a common sight along Ha Long-Cai Dam Streets in Bai Chay Ward as they take a stroll and do the shopping, particularly in the late evening, when Ha Long Bay … [Read more...] about Chinese tourist influx to Ha Long Bay brings smiles, grimaces