Vietnam’s tourism sector has made new records in 2016, said Nguyen Van Tuan, Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism at a press conference on December 22 in Hanoi.
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s tourism sector has made new records in 2016, said NguyenVan Tuan, Head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism at a pressconference on December 22 in Hanoi.
According toTuan, one of the records is the number of 10 million international touristarrivals, up 25 percent against last year (or two million), making the highestthus far.
The ten-millionthforeign visitor to Vietnam will land Phu Quoc international airport in thesouthern coastal province of Kien Giang on December 25.
The sector also served62 million domestic tourists and earned total revenues of 400 trillion VND (18billion USD).
Such figures showed that the sector in 2016 has reached the goals set for 2020 under theStrategy for Vietnamese tourism development in 2020 with a vision to 2030.
According to thetourism administration, most of foreign tourist groups to Vietnam increased in2016.
To date, NortheastAsian visitors have topped the list, especially those from China, Japan and theRepublic of Korea (RoK). They together made up 30 percent of internationaltourists in 2016.
The number ofWestern European travellers to Vietnam also experienced a soar, including thosefrom Italy, the UK, France, Germany and Spain, which are benefiting fromVietnam’s visa exemption policy.
By the end ofOctober this year, as many as 635,000 tourists from those markets arrived inVietnam, an increase of 16 percent compared to the same period last year. Of thefigure, the Italian market upped 30 percent, Spain and the UK ones jumped by 27percent and 22 percent, respectively.
Russia is the Vietnamesetourism sector’s biggest European market with a growth of 27 percent, whilesmall – scale ones such as the Netherlands and Sweden also enjoyed asignificant rise.
In 2017, thecountry’s tourism aims to lure 11.5 million international tourists and serve 66million domestic visitors, earning 460 trillion VND (20.24 billion USD) inrevenue.-VNA
More than 5.2 million foreign tourists visited Ho Chi Minh City in 2016, a rise of 10 percent against last year, said the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
The tourism sector will host the 10 millionth foreign visitor to Vietnam at the Phu Quoc international airport in the southern coastal province of Kien Giang on December 25.
More than 5.2 million foreign tourists visited Ho Chi Minh City in 2016, a rise of 10 percent against last year. The figures have been released by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Vietnam is one of the most favourite destinations of Russians for the New Year holiday, according to Maya Lomidze, Director of Association of Tour Operations of Russia (ATOR).
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.
Tourists at Hoi An ancient town (Photo: VNA) 
