Vietnam Becomes Second Most Visited Country in Southeast Asia

Vietnam welcomed 22 million foreign tourists last year, making it the second most visited country in Southeast Asia after Malaysia (42 million). This achievement highlights Vietnam's growing appeal to international travelers. China remained the largest source of tourists with 3.7 million visitors, followed by Malaysia with 2.8 million and India with 1.6 million. Russia ranked fourth with 1.2 million, and South Korea fifth with 811,246 tourists. This diverse origin of visitors indicates Vietnam's broad appeal across various markets. Foreign tourism revenue during the period was estimated to reach VND1 trillion (US$32.5 billion), a significant contribution to Vietnam's economy, particularly in the service sector and job creation. Officials expect tourist arrivals to increase slightly in the coming weeks, driven by major holidays in Asian countries. South Korea's Chuseok holiday runs from September 24 to 26, China's Mid-Autumn Festival falls from September 25 to 27, followed by the National Day Golden Week from October 1 to 7. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) forecasts around 250,000 Chinese visitors from September 25 to October 7, a 24% year-on-year increase, generating an estimated VND11.5 billion in tourism revenue. October bookings from China are already 16% higher, with flight searches up 24%. Vietnam aims to attract 33 million tourists by the end of 2024. This goal reflects the Vietnamese government's ambition to further develop the tourism industry as part of its economic growth strategy under a one-party system. Relations with China are economically significant, and an increase in Chinese tourists would be a boon for Vietnam's economy. However, Vietnam must also consider sustainable tourism development and the impact of tourists on local communities. Source: VnExpress International