Vietnam has seen an increase in the number of tourist arrivals in recent months, ending the declining trend seen since the beginning of this year.
The remark was made by Nguyen Van Tuan, Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), at a meeting of the Tourism Consultative Council (TCC) in Hanoi on October 1 with the assistance from the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme sponsored by the European Union (EU-ESRT).
He said from July to September, international tourists increased monthly in comparison with a 12 percent drop seen in the first six months.
In the first nine months of 2015, the country welcomed nearly 5.7 million tourists, down 5.9 percent year-on-year.
The number of visitors from China, Thailand and Laos to Vietnam decreased by an average of around 20 percent. Cambodia has had the sharpest fall of 40 percent.
Statistics showed a sharper decline in the number of tourists entering Vietnam by road with short stay than those who stay longer and spend more.
Meanwhile, domestic tourists rose by 9 percent to 48.8 million in the nine-month period, contributing to a 2.8 percent growth in the country’s tourism revenues.
According to Tuan, in the past nine months – the first phase of the implementation of the Government’s Resolution 92 on measures to boost Vietnam’s tourism development, the VNAT implemented many activities, including visa exemptions for citizens of five European countries and Belarus.
The agency is applying for visa exemptions for 19 more countries and proposing the establishment of a tourism-support fund.
With the assistance from the EU-ESRT, the VNAT will boost promotion activities in the European market and coordinate with Vietnam Airlines to facilitate press conferences in Singapore in October and at the World Travel Market in London on November as well as in Hong Kong (China) and Bangkok (Thailand), he said.
It is working closely with EU-ESRT experts to update and revise the current Tourism Law in an effort to improve the integration and competitiveness of Vietnam’s tourism sector, he added.
At the meeting, Tuan and TCC Chairman Tran Hung Viet signed a cooperation agreement under which the TCC will assist the VNAT in trade fairs and exhibitions, tourism exploration trips, public relations and e-marketing.-VNA
The efforts of travel firms and HCM City’s authorities have helped the local tourism sector maintain its growth trend despite declines in the number of tourist arrivals to Vietnam this year.
Many Vietnamese travel firms attended the ongoing 21st International Trade Fair for Travel and Tourism 2015 in Moscow, Russia, with the hope of enticing Russian customers.
Vietnam welcomed over 626,300 foreign visitors in September, up 8.3 percent from the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
The central province of Thua Thien-Hue received nearly 2.3 million tourists in the first nine months of this year, raking in over 2 trillion VND (88 billion USD), representing a year-on-year increase
“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.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA)
