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.
According to a report by Google Destination Insights, Vietnam was the seventh most searched destination from March to June, and the only country in Southeast Asia in the top 20.
The popularity of Vietnam is showing in the number of international arrivals. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism announced in June that the country had welcomed over 5.5 million foreign visitors in the first six months of 2023, already exceeding the total number of international arrivals in 2022.
More tourist growth predicted for Vietnam
Vietnam’s tourist sector has set a target of 8 million visitors for the remainder of 2023, however, the tourism bureau has since predicted the numbers will likely rise to 10 million.
Bobby Nguyen, chairman of Rustic Hospitality Group, a tour agency, told DW that the boost is coming mainly from Chinese, Indian and Korean tourists.
“China has reopened the outbound market to Vietnam and the Indian market has grown since 2022,” he said.