Despite the global economic recession last year, Hanoi welcomed 2.1 million foreign visitors, an increase of 11.3 percent from 2011, and one-third of all foreign visitors to Vietnam – a new record for the city.

208,000 visitors were from China (up 27 percent from the year before), 152,500 from Japan , 130,500 Australians and 81,000 from the Republic of Korea . The city also attracted 12.3 million domestic tourists./.