Vietnam’s Tourism Market Grew by 51%, with South Korea and China Accounting for the Majority

Vietnam’s international tourist arrivals in the first seven months totaled nearly 10 million, a 51% increase from last year. South Korea and China accounted for half of the total.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN (Periodical News) – Vietnam’s tourism industry has not only rebounded but also shown remarkable resilience, with nearly 10 million international tourists visiting the country in the first seven months of 2024. This marks a 51% increase compared to last year and a 1.9% rise from 2019, signaling a return to pre-pandemic levels.In July 2024 alone, 1.15 million international tourists arrived in Vietnam, reflecting a 10.9% increase from July 2023. The resurgence of Vietnam as a favored destination, particularly for island vacations, has contributed to this significant growth. Asian tourists have been the driving force behind this recovery, with visitors from South Korea and China accounting for nearly half the total. This strong presence has increased language support in popular tourist areas, where communication in Korean and Chinese is now widely available.

The “Tourism Information for July 2024” report recently released by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration pointed out that the number of international tourists in most markets has increased, especially in the Asian market, where the growth rate reached 57% due to the distance advantage. Among them, Northeast Asian tourists contributed the most, with South Korea ranking first with 2.6 million visitors (accounting for 26%), followed by China with 2.1 million visitors (accounting for 21.4%). These two markets account for nearly half of Vietnam’s total international tourists. Taiwan ranked third with 732,000 visitors, and the United States and Japan ranked fourth and fifth, with 478,000 and 380,000 tourists, respectively. Southeast Asian markets are also showing good growth momentum, with Malaysia, India, and Thailand seeing the most significant number of tourists.

Among them, the growth of the Taiwan market is particularly significant, with an increase of 76% compared with the same period last year, becoming the country with the fastest-growing number of tourists in Vietnam. Vietnamese restaurants and hair salons can be found everywhere on the streets of Taiwan, showing the local people’s love for Vietnamese culture. Due to its magnificent natural landscape, short flight time, similar culture and food habits, and relatively affordable travel costs, Vietnam has become the preferred island vacation destination for many Taiwanese people.

In addition to the Asian market, the European market also showed significant growth, with an increase of 47% compared to last year. This is due to the open visa and immigration policy implemented in August 2023 and a series of promotional activities recently launched by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration in significant markets such as France, Germany, Italy, and Russia.

The long and narrow terrain in the north and south of Vietnam gives the north, central, and south unique scenery and cultural charm, attracting many tourists to visit again and again. In addition to privately launching diversified tourism products and services, Vietnamese officials are also actively promoting the improvement of the international tourism image and brand, promoting the digital transformation of the tourism industry, and strengthening environmental protection activities. These measures will further promote the recovery of Vietnam’s tourism market.