In the first two months of 2024, Vietnam received 97,500 travelers from Australia, equal to 25 percent of total travelers from the country in 2023. The country was among the top six largest inbound markets, after South Korea, China, Taiwan, the US and Japan.

“In 2023, Vietnam’s tourism witnessed a strong recovery, receiving 12.6 million foreign travelers. Though travelers from Australia just accounted for 3 percent of total travelers, this is an important source of guests who tend to stay a long time and have high spending level,” Phong said at a workshop on tourism development between Vietnam and Australia.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski think the cooperation between the two countries in tourism has been going well after upgrading to a comprehensive strategic partnership and with many direct air routes.

Darrel Wade, president of Intrepid Travel, said the number of international travelers the group brought to Vietnam in 2023 was higher than in 2019.

He said in addition to beautiful landscapes, Vietnam has emerged as a destination with diverse experiences for Australian travelers, which has prompted Intrepid to develop new culture and food tours, in addition to its adventure tours.

He said one of plus points is the reasonable cost.

Vietnam continues to be a favorite destination for Australians in 2024. The number of Australian outbound travelers is still 14 percent lower than that in 2019, but the number of Australian travelers to Vietnam in 2023 reached 390,000, compared to the 383,000 in 2019.

HCM City was among the top 10 most searched keywords for Australian travelers, increasing by 2.5 times over last year, according to Skyscanner in November 2023.

Australian travel firms said they hope Vietnam’s tourism continue to improve service quality and develop green tourism. They suggested a visa waiver for Australian travelers.

The Sydney Morning Herald has named Vietnam as one of the ideal destinations in 2024.

The scenery of Ha Long Bay, highlands landscapes, beach resorts, national parks, rich history and vibrant urban life in cities attract visitors to the country.

Linh Trang