Vietnam welcomes over 5.5 international visitors in six months
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on June 28 announced that the country welcomed over 5.57 million foreign tourists in the first six months of 2023.
International travelers take cyclo tour around Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 🍷– The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on June 28announced that the country welcomed over 5.57 million foreign tourists in the firstsix months of 2023.
Thenumber of domestic tourists during the period was estimated at 64 million. Totalrevenue from tourists was estimated at 343.1 trillion VND (14.6billion USD). InJune alone, Vietnam welcomed over 975,000 international travellers, an increaseof 6.4% from the previous month. Majormarkets of Vietnam’s tourism were the Republic of Korea, China, Taiwan (China),the US, Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Thailand, and Australia. Thesearch volume for Vietnam's tourism via Google's market trend tracking tool haskept growing from the beginning of this year. It was the only SoutheastAsian nation listed in the top 10 destinations with the highest growthworldwide. Accordingto the VNAT, the increasing search volume for Vietnam indicates a strong demandrecovery. So, Vietnam sees good opportunities to attract internationalvisitors in the coming time. In arelevant development, the National Assembly on June 24 approved extendingtourist e-visas from 30 to 90 days, starting from August 15, 2023. Uponbeing granted an e-visa, a foreigner can enter and exit an unlimited number oftimes within 90 days, without having to go through procedures for obtaining anew visa.
Tourists visit Hue Imperial Citadel.(Photo: VNA)
Citizensof countries that are unilaterally exempted from visas by Vietnam will begranted temporary residence for 45 days (up from 15 days) and can be consideredfor visa issuance and temporary residence extension according to regulations. Suchnew policies are expected to help Vietnam attract a large number ofinternational visitors, especially during the peak season starting aroundSeptember, according to the VNAT. Thisyear, Vietnam is striving to serve 110 million tourists, including 8 millionforeigners (the target was set before China, the primary tourist market to Vietnam, announced its reopening in February), and earn around 650 trillion VND(27.6 billion USD) from tourism services./.
Vietnam’s tourism may attract 10 million foreign tourist arrivals this year, surpassing the target of 8 million previously set by the sector, according to deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Ha Van Sieu.
A workshop on developing a supply chain of tourism services for Islamic visitors in central Vietnam opened in the central beach city of Da Nang on June 10.
The capital city of Hanoi is among the top 10 domestic destinations searched for by Vietnamese tourists on booking.com, based on the data from the online travel agency.
The number of foreign visitors to Vietnam is predicted to see a 1.5-fold increase following the extension of tourist e-visas from 30 to 90 days from August 15, according to insiders.
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.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
International travelers take cyclo tour around Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) 
Tourists visit Hue Imperial Citadel.(Photo: VNA) 
