13 million foreigners spend holidays in Vietnam in 2017
About 13 million foreigners chose Vietnam as their holiday destination in 2017, which is considered a record of the tourism sector and marked a year-on-year rise of nearly 3 million in the number of foreign visitors for the first time.
Visitors to Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang province (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – About 13 million foreigners choseVietnam as their holiday destination in 2017, which is considered a record ofthe tourism sector and marked a year-on-year rise of nearly 3 million in thenumber of foreign visitors for the first time.
Meanwhile, the sector served 73.2 milliondomestic tourists. It earned 510.9 trillion VND (22.5 billion USD) fromvisitors this year, according to statistics unveiled at a meeting of the Statesteering committee for tourism in Hanoi on December 26.
Local tourism accommodation has been developed,surpassing 25,000 establishments with more than 500,000 rooms. There are now116 five-star hotels with over 33,000 rooms, 259 four-star hotels, and 488three-star hotels nationwide.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism(MCST) reported that the tourism sector successfully fulfilled the target of30-percent rise in the number of foreign visitors.
While promotion activities have been enhancedand reformed, the sector has also attracted much social investment in tourism,especially the high-end segment. Many localities have made efforts to attractinvestment in tourism and develop tourism products.
Vietnam has also won a number of tourism awardsand titles in 2017, which helped promote the country’s image during integrationinto the world, the ministry noted.
The MCST also admitted certain shortcomings inthe industry, including limited services at some tourism areas, low competitiveness,a shortage of strong tourism brand names, and flaws in ensuring security andsafety for tourists at some places of interest.
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Prime MinisterVu Duc Dam, head of the State steering committee for tourism, applauded the 30-percentincrease in the foreign tourist number, noting that more attention should bepaid to quality.
He asked the tourism sector to improve products,accommodation facilities, manpower, as well as museum and theme parks, whiledevising appropriate strategies and plans. It must successfully carry out theplan on restructuring the tourism sector so as to develop tourism into aspearhead economic industry.-VNA
The Prime Minister has recently given the green light to a tourism development master plan for Dong Van Karst Plateau national tourism site in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang until 2025 with a vision towards 2030.
The northern province of Quang Ninh needs to call on investment in developing luxury tourism and real estate products to meet the high demand of tourists, according to experts.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved a master plan for the development of Tan Trao national tourist site in the northern province of Tuyen Quang to 2030.
Tourist sites and resorts in the Ham Tien-Mui Ne area, Phan Thiet city, the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan, are busy during last months of the year as many international tourists come here for their winter vacation.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Visitors to Ban Gioc Waterfall in Cao Bang province (Photo: VNA) 
