The number of inbound visitors continues to grow significantly compared to pre-Covid-19 levels.

According to the General Statistics Office, in June 2024, international visitors to Vietnam numbered over 1.2 million, reflecting a 28.1% increase compared to the same period last year.

In the first six months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed a total of more than 8.8 million visitors, a 58.4% increase over the same period last year and a 4.1% increase compared to the same period in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vietnam is halfway towards its target of 17-18 million international visitors for the year. From October, the peak season for international visitors, the tourism industry expects the number of visitors to continue increasing.

In the first half of the year, South Korea remained the largest market with 2.28 million arrivals, a 42.4% increase over the same period last year. The Chinese market followed with 1.89 million arrivals, and the Taiwanese market (China) was third with more than 630,000 arrivals.

Among the leading markets for visitors to Vietnam in the first half of the year were also the US with more than 415,000 arrivals, Japan with nearly 336,000 arrivals, Malaysia with 254,000 arrivals, Australia with 243,000 arrivals, India with 239,000 arrivals, as well as Cambodia and Thailand.

In the latest report, VinaCapital expects the number of international tourists to Vietnam to increase by 40% in 2024, following a nearly 250% increase last year.

The recovery of international tourism is primarily driven by visitors from South Korea and the US, and notably the continued recovery of Chinese tourists after the country relaxed its Zero Covid-19 policy in 2023.

However, the General Statistics Office noted that in June alone, the number of inbound visitors decreased by 10% compared to the same period last year. Leading markets such as South Korea, China, Taiwan (China), and Japan saw declines due to the low season for international visitors to Vietnam.

Conversely, due to the peak summer season of domestic tourism, revenue from accommodation and catering services nationwide increased sharply by over 15% year-on-year in the first six months, estimated at VND 356.4 trillion. Specific increases included Quang Ninh (25.2%), Da Nang (22.2%), Hai Phong (15%), Hanoi (11.3%), Can Tho (11.2%), and Ho Chi Minh City (8.1%).

Tourism revenue for the first six months of 2024 is estimated at VND 29.4 trillion, up 37% compared to the same period in 2023.

Ngoc Ha