Vietnam ranked second in a list of the five most popular destinations for South Koreans thanks to easy flight connections and warm weather, a survey showed.
Some 2.56 million South Koreans arrived in Vietnam by air during the January-September period, up 389% year-on-year, according to statistics provided by the immigration agency of South Korea’s Ministry of Justice.
Japan was named the most favorite tourist destination by South Koreans with 4.8 million arriving by air.
Thailand came in third with 1.08 million, followed by the Philippines and the U.S., according to the survey that compiled the list based on the number of South Korean tourists using flights in the January-September period.
Since Vietnam reopened its borders to foreign tourists in March last year, South Korea has become the Southeast Asian nation’s largest source of tourist arrivals.
A number of South Korean airlines recently increased direct routes to Vietnam tourist hubs.
South Korea’s largest low-cost airline Jeju Air will launch a new direct route from Incheon to the Central Highlands resort city of Da Lat from December 20.
Jeju Air also plans to launch a daily Seoul-Phu Quoc service from this month, while Korean Air and Jin Air are set to fly on the same route from late November.
Eastar Jet Airlines last month restarted its direct air service from Incheon to Cam Ranh, a popular resort town near Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa province, after three years of hiatus.
In addition to convenient flights, the frequent arrival of K-pop stars has made Vietnam a top pick for South Koreans.
A series of Korean stars have recently been flocking to Vietnam. TV and film star Lee Da-hee chose a high-end resort for her birthday celebration and family vacation to Da Nang in March, while actor Jung Kyung-ho stayed at a secluded 5-star resort near the beach city Nha Trang in April.
Previously, Korean tourists mainly visited Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City when first visiting Vietnam.
However, the current trend shows that they are now going directly to Danang, Phu Quoc or Nha Trang. These destinations provide popular attractions away from the busy cities, as mentioned by a senior official from Hanatour, Korea's leading travel agency.
Nha Trang has become a beloved destination for young Koreans, offering cultural attractions to explore during the day and lively nightlife, Korea Herald reported.