Indian tourists are most interested in visiting Da Nang, with the central coastal city topping their destination searches; and Hanoi is another top 10 draw, a new Skyscanner report says.
The report released this week by Scotland-based Skycanner, one of the world's largest flight travel search platforms, said Da Nang was the most searched destination by Indian travelers with the biggest year-on-year search increase of 1,141%.
The Vietnamese city was followed by Almaty in Kazakhstan (501%) and Baku in Azerbaijan (438%).
Hanoi, home to UNESCO heritage site Thang Long Imperial Citadel and ancient pagodas as well as historical relics, came fifth on the list with a 396% search increase year-on-year after Japan’s Osaka (435%).
“Indian travelers have an appetite for short-haul travel, with six out of the top 10 trending destinations close by cities. Famous for its beaches, Da Nang comes out on top. They're searching for Krabi and Mahe too, highlighting the appetite for relaxation and sunshine,” the report said.
Far-flung destinations remain popular among Indian travelers too, with Osaka and Auckland trending. As a top foodie destination, Japan continues to make a comeback after its re-opening last year, it added.
The list was based on the increase in flight and hotel booking searches from India between August 7, 2022-August 7, 2023 versus the same period in 2021-2022.
Its long, sandy beaches have made Da Nang and other popular attractions like the Golden Bridge, Son Tra Peninsula, Me Khe beach and Five Marble Mountains have made the central city one of Vietnam’s top tourism hubs.
From Da Nang, visitors can easily access three world-famous heritage sites – Hue Imperial Capital, My Son Sanctuary and the ancient town of Hoi An.
Meanwhile, Hanoi has long been famous for its Ngoc Son Temple, Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake and the Old Quarter. The autumn season from September to November and spring season between March and April are said to be the most ideal times to visit Hanoi with milder temperatures and pleasant weather.
India was one of 10 largest markets for Vietnam’s inbound tourism last year with 137,900 arrivals.
In the first nine months of 2023, Da Nang recorded more than 95,000 tourist arrivals from India, accounting for almost half of the total visitors from the South Asian country to Vietnam.
Last year, budget airline Vietjet launched two direct routes connecting Da Nang with India's New Delhi and Mumbai cities.