Vietnam’s tourism from overseas is thriving, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and showing promising signs for the industry’s recovery.
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), April witnessed a surge with almost 1.6 million foreign visitors, marking a 58.2% increase from last year. This pushed the total international arrivals for the first four months to 6.2 million, a notable 68.3% jump from the previous year and exceeding the pre-pandemic peak.
The positive trend wasn’t just about the numbers. Revenue from accommodation and dining soared to VND237.3 trillion ($9.88 billion), up by 15.3%, with overall tourism revenue spiking by 49.3% to VND19.4 trillion.
Asian visitors increased by 77.2%, and European arrivals surged by 63.8%. Notably, Vietnam’s top tourist market, South Korea, contributed 1.6 million visitors, accounting for 25.8% of the total. Other key markets like the US, Taiwan (China), and Japan also saw significant growth.
Arrivals from major European markets showed impressive increases: UK up by 35.2%, France by 41.7%, Germany by 36.9%, Italy by 77.4%, Spain by 48.5%, and Russia by 74%.
Both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City remained popular destinations, each welcoming around 1.4 million foreigners during the first four months, representing annual increases of 40% and 32.4%, respectively.
VNAT Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh credited part of this success to the new visa policy implemented in August 2023, which garnered international praise and contributed significantly to the growth of international arrivals.
The strong start to the year puts the industry on track to achieve its goal of hosting 17-18 million foreign visitors for the entire year, providing much-needed relief for the aviation sector, which has been struggling due to a decline in the domestic market.
The Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) reported a 45% increase in foreign passengers passing through its airports, with international cargo volume also rising by nearly 7.6%, reaching approximately 14,000 tonnes.
Building on this momentum, Dang Minh Truong, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sun Group, proposed expanding unilateral visa exemptions for citizens from developed countries such as Australia, Canada, and the US, as well as selected European Union nations and some Middle Eastern countries.
Truong also suggested piloting short-term visa exemptions ranging from 6 months to 1 year for tourists from promising markets like China, India, and Taiwan (China), with the aim of stimulating further tourism demand and cementing Vietnam’s status as a premier tourist destination.