Vietnam attracts foreign tourists with its magnificent natural beauty. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam's tourism sector has recorded positive signals since the beginning of this year as the number of domestic tourists grew strongly and more and more foreign travellers arrived in Vietnam. It reflects that tourism is gradually recovering and is a driving force for the sector to achieve its set goals, contributing to economic growth of the country.
According to data from Google’s tourism trend monitoring tool, the search volume for travel to Vietnam has been continuously increasing, ranking among the top searches in the world. Specifically, Vietnam has risen from the 11th position to the current 6th position.
Vietnam is the only country in Southeast Asia to be among the top high-growth economies in the world, with a growth rate of 10% to 25%, ranking 6th globally. This rate is much higher than the overall growth rate of the Southeast Asian region (-10% to 10%).
The countries that show the most interest in tourism in Vietnam include the US, Japan, Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Germany, and France.
UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay ranks first among the 16 most favourite UNESCO world heritage wonders in Southeast Asia. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
Vietnam's Ha Long Bay Hoi An, and Phong Nha-Ke Bang have been named among the 16 most favourite UNESCO world heritage wonders in Southeast Asia by leading UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust.
UNESCO-listed Ha Long Bay, one of the most beautiful places in the world, was ranked first in the list.
The Travel, a well-known travel site in Canada, has ranked Vietnam in the fifth place on a list of the top 10 most attractive destinations in Asia.
According to the magazine, Vietnam has been developing with youthful and dynamic vitality, and there are numerous majestic and beautiful natural wonders across the S-shaped country.
The magazine mentioned limestone islands with unique shapes in Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha Cave in Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park, and charming rivers in the Mekong Delta region, saying that these are just a few of the many tourist attractions in the Southeast Asian nation.
Vast rice fields and typical floating markets help increase the attractiveness of this top regional tourist destination, it said.
Not only possessing natural beauty, Vietnam also attracts tourists by architectural works with century-old historical and cultural imprints, the magazine added.
Recently, the world's leading travel website Expedia also ranked Vietnam as one of the most sought-after destinations for foreign tourists this summer.
Searches and bookings for Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City have soared 298, 439, and 219%, respectively.
According to Travel Daily News, Vietnam is a great destination for those who love to ride motorbikes in Southeast Asia.
Vietnam is a country of contrasts, with bustling cities and tranquil countryside, pristine beaches, and rugged mountains, it said.
Motorcycle riders can experience all of these aspects of Vietnam by taking one of the many incredible motorcycle routes that crisscross the country, it went on.
Data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) showed that in the first six months of this year, the country welcomed nearly 70 million visitors, including 5.6 million international visitors and approximately 64 million domestic visitors.
Vietnam's tourism industry has reached 70% of the target of receiving eight million international tourists in 2023.
Searches and bookings for Hanoi have skyrocketed to 298%. (Photo: VietnamPlus)
According to the VNAT, this figure shows that foreign visitors’ demand for Vietnam's tourism is recovering very quickly, at a much higher rate than rivals in the region, therefore, Vietnam has a good opportunity to attract international travellers in the near future.
Recently, the National Assembly has agreed to extend the validity of the e-visa from 30 days to 90 days, allowing multiple entries, and extend the temporary residence period for visa-exempt unilateral entry to 45 days from the previous 15 days. These policies will officially take effect from August 15.
In addition, the Government is also considering expanding the list of countries eligible for unilateral visa exemption to attract more international visitors to Vietnam.
The VNAT affirmed that these new policies will contribute to facilitating visas and entry and exit. It is expected that the tourism industry will attract a large number of international visitors to Vietnam in the near future, especially when the peak season for international tourism will begin in September.
According to tourism experts, this year, Vietnam can surpass the goal of welcoming 8 million international visitors and even reach 12 million./.
