Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia in Southeast Asia ranked ninth in the Top 10 destinations for Americans who are 55 years or older, according to Mr. Alan E. Lewis, Chairman of Overseas Adventure Travel (O.A.T), the leader in small groups on the road less traveled.

Visitors in Hoi An Ancient Town

He announced O.A.T’s “Top 10 Destinations for 2018” based on year-to-date bookings by O.A.T. travelers. More than 15,000 travelers have booked an adventure to one or more of these destinations in 2018. There have been 1,295 bookings to Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia.

O.A.T. anticipates 57,012 travelers overall in 2018, up from 46,247 in 2016 and 40,266 in 2013. “Whether 55 or 75, older American travelers are heading to far-flung locations in record numbers and their varying choice of destinations mirrors the myriad interests of their generation,” said Mr. Lewis. 

“What these travelers share in common is the desire to be fully immersed in local life when traveling, by engaging with students and teachers in rural schools, sharing a meal with a family in their home, or spending the day with local people in their village so they can gain a first-hand understanding of the destination and, ultimately, get a better sense of the world we share.”

Established in 1978, OAT is part of the Boston-based Grand Circle Corporation’s family of travel companies, which also include Grand Circle Cruise Line and Grand Circle Travel.

According to figures from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, total international arrivals last year reached 12,922,151, an increase of 29.1 per cent compared to 2016. There were about 614,117 arrivals from the US, up 111.1 per cent.

VN Economic Times