The December figure represents an increase of 11.2% month on month and an annual rise of 93.9%, said the GSO.

For the whole year, Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million foreign arrivals, 3.4 times higher compared to the figure recorded in the same period last year and equal to 70% of the number seen in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, far exceeding the target of eight million set earlier this year by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Of the total, approximately 11 million travelled by air, accounting for 87% of the total, while 1.5 million travelled by road, making up 12%.

The estimated revenue from accommodation and catering services this year hit VND673 trillion, up by 14.7% year on year.

Meanwhile, thanks to exciting cultural and tourism activities held across localities, travel businesses earned about VND37.8 trillion, an increase of 52.5% from last year.

Asia maintained its position as Vietnam’s largest tourist market with 9.78 million arrivals. Of the total, the Republic of Korea took the lead with around 3.6 million, followed by China1.74 million, and India 392,141.

Source: VOV