Foreign visitors are impressed by landscapes in the northern province of Ninh Binh. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s tourism has continuously received praise from international media that said the country would become Asia’s new tourism hotspot.
After the summer holiday season, travel firms are gearing up for the peak tourism season for foreigners, from September to April, which is expected to bring about high revenue for domestic tour operators thanks to the new visa policy.
As of August 15, Vietnam offers longer tourist e-visas to 90 from 30 days, with multiple entries, and triple the duration of visa-free stays for visitors from certain countries to 45 days.
As tourism rebounds after the COVID-19 pandemic, industry experts say Vietnam is becoming a favored destination for travelers to Asia, according to Germany’s DW News.
“Vietnam has fast become one of the most popular destinations in Southeast Asia, as tourists enjoy the county's diverse landscapes, beaches, mountainous rice terraces and bustling cities,” it said.
Travel Off Path, one of North America's largest travel news websites, also named Vietnam as "Asia’s new tourism hotspot."
The US-based travel website has identified three reasons for Vietnam being the new Asia tourism hotpot including the adjusted visa requirements, a well-preserved natural beauty and a focus on tourism growth.
In an article published on July 23, Travel Off Path said that Vietnam is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful scenery, a huge coastline that stretches for an incredible 3,260km, and energetic cities.
"When people think of travelling to Southeast Asia, Thailand is usually the first destination that comes to mind. But if you want to avoid the crowds of tourists in Thailand, then there is an emerging force for tourism in the region that is ripe for exploration — Vietnam," it said.
Co Loa Ancient Citadel, a unique tourist attraction in Hanoi. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi ranked sixth on a list of the 21 most ideal destinations for winter escapes thanks to its 'beautiful weather,' according to American media company US News & World Report.
"Vietnam's capital city offers beautiful weather come winter. Daytime temperatures comfortably rest in the 60s and 70s (degrees Fahrenheit), and rain showers are infrequent," said the report.
A wintertime visit also allows tourists to explore some of Hanoi's best events, such as the Lunar New Year which falls on January or February, and the Perfume Pagoda Festival, one of the largest Buddhist pilgrimages in northern Vietnam, according to the rankings.
The US News & World report recommended a tour of the Temple of Literature, the site of Vietnam's first university built in 1070, and also suggested that tourists try a bowl of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) for dinner.
International cuisine magazine Taste Atlas in early August also named Vietnam’s 10 most popular street foods, including “com tam” (broken rice), “pho ga” (chicken noodle), “banh cuon” (steamed rice rolls stuffed with pork and mushrooms), and “banh beo” (steamed savory rice cake).
Such praise by the international media is partially attributable to efforts by the Government, management agencies, localities, and businesses.
The VNAT reported that Vietnam welcomed nearly 6.6 million international visitors in the first seven months of this year, accounting for 83% of the yearly target.
During the period, the industry also served 76.5 million domestic tourists. Total revenues from tourism reached 416.6 trillion VND (17.58 billion USD).
July alone saw over 1 million foreign arrivals, 6.5% higher than that of the previous month.
According to the authority, the tourism sector expects to soon reach its yearly target as the second half of the year is usually the peak time for international visitors.
Vietnam welcomes nearly 6.6 million international visitors in the first seven months of this year. (Photo: VietnamPlus) The RoK remained the largest source market of Vietnam tourism in the first seven months of this year with 1.9 million arrivals, accounting for one-third of total international visitors to Vietnam. It was followed by China and the US.
Among the top ten source markets of Vietnam tourism, four are in Northeast Asia - the RoK, China, Taiwan (China), and Japan, and three in Southeast Asia - Thailand, Malaysia, and Cambodia. Australia and India ranked ninth and tenth. In Europe, the UK, France, and Germany were the three biggest source markets.
Many main source markets for tourists in Vietnam saw growth in July, such as Taiwan (31.3%), Japan (15%), China (14%), the US (7%) and the RoK (6%)./.
