Overseas visitors stayed in Ho Chi Minh City for 5.2 days on average in 2017, with foreign tourists on holidays spending four days, according to a recent survey jointly conducted by the city’s Department of Tourism and the Statistics Office.
Visitors on a cyclo tour in HCM City. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Overseasvisitors stayed in Ho Chi Minh City for 5.2 days on average in 2017, withforeign tourists on holidays spending four days, according to a recent surveyjointly conducted by the city’s Department of Tourism and the StatisticsOffice.
The survey conducted last year showed thatoverseas visitors who spent four to seven days accounted for 48 percent of allforeign visitors, while those who stayed eight to 14 days accounted for 40 percent.
International tourists for leisure travelaccounted for 73 percent of the total overseas visitors, while tourists forconference and business travel accounted for 7 percent and 5 percent,respectively.
Foreign tourist spending was an average of 3.3million VND (145 USD) a day. Accommodation spending was the largest expense (33percent), followed by food and beverage services (20 percent), shopping (18 percent)and travelling (10 percent).
Domestic tourists stayed in the city for 3.6days on average, with tourists staying for one to three days accounting for 61 percentof all tourists, and those staying for four to seven days accounting for 35 percent.
The average spending of domestic touristsamounted to 1.58 million VND (69 USD) a day.
Spending on accommodation for domestictravellers was the highest expense (22.9 percent), followed by food andbeverage services (18.9 percent), shopping (13 percent), and travelling (12.2 percent).
Sixty-nine percent of foreign tourists chosemore flexible “free and easy” tours, while the remaining 31 percent joinedgroup tours.
Nearly 81 percent of domestic tourists chosefree and easy tours, while group tours accounted for more than 19 percent.
Last year, the city welcomed 6.38 millionoverseas tourist arrivals and 24.9 million domestic tourist arrivals.
In the first six months of this year, the numberof international tourist arrivals to the city soared by 26.5 percentyear-on-year to reach 3.83 million, according to the city’s Department ofTourism.
Tourism revenue amounted to 62.6 trillion VND (2.74billion USD), up 15.7 percent year-on-year.-VNS/VNA
Foreign visitors have warmly welcomed Vietnam’s continued visa exemptions for guests from the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy, saying the policy is good for the country to spur tourism.
The number of foreign tourists to Vietnam in the first six months of 2018 surged 27.2 percent year-on-year to 7.89 million, the General Statistics Office announced on June 29.
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 on a cyclo tour in HCM City. (Photo: VNA) 
