Vietnam welcomes 1.04 mln foreigners in July, a record high since post-pandemic tourism reopening
Vietnam welcomed nearly 1.04 million international arrivals in July, the highest monthly figure recorded since the country reopened from the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2022.
The figure was up 6.5% from June and three times higher than July last year, but equivalent to only 79% of the pre-pandemic period in 2019, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). July is peak time for domestic tourism in a year.
Europe accounted for highest growth in visitor arrivals compared to other continents, up 27% against June. Other top markets also increased in July compared to the previous month: South Korea (6%), China (14%), and the U.S. (7%).
However, countries in Southeast Asia saw a decline in visitors to Vietnam: Thailand (-19%), Malaysia (-24%) and Cambodia (-9.8%).
In the first seven months of this year, the number of foreign visitors to Vietnam reached 6.6 million, up 5.9 times year-on-year and equal to 83% of the country's year target.
South Korea was the largest source with nearly 1.9 million arrivals, accounting for one third of the total, followed by China with 738,000 and the U.S. with 445,000.
On June 24, Vietnam’s National Assembly approved a government proposal to extend the validity of tourist e-visas to 90 days with multiple entry, starting August 15.
Since the country reopened to tourism after a prolonged hiatus courtesy of the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has only been granting 30-day, single entry visas.
Under the new policy, foreigners with valid visas will be able to enter and exit Vietnam multiple times without having to apply for new visas each time. The National Assembly also agreed to extend the stay of visitors from countries that are unilaterally exempt from visas from 15 to 45 days.
This adjustment will also take effect on August 15.
Travel firms said they re organizing longer tours to take advantage of opportunities that the new 90-day visa policy may bring when it takes effect.
- Read More
Former Government Office chairman receives $7,900 bribe from property project
Mai Tien Dung, former Minister-Government Office Chairman, received a bribe worth VND200 million ($7,900) from Nguyen Cao Tri, owner of the Dai Ninh eco-resort and urban area project in Lam Dong province.
Society - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 9:13 pm GMT+7
Thai food giant CP enters public-private partnership to promote food system transformation
Thai-invested C.P. Vietnam Livestock JSC and the Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture Vietnam (PSAV) signed a memorandum of understanding Friday on working together to advance sustainable agriculture in the country.
Companies - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 7:16 pm GMT+7
Central Vietnam province Quang Ngai to begin work on new VSIP industrial park next year
Vietnam’s central province of Quang Ngai will work with the investor to have construction of VSIP II Quang Ngai, a facility based on the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) model, begin in August 2025.
Industrial real estate - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 3:47 pm GMT+7
Vietnam likely to grow 6.5% in 2024-2025: VinaCapital
VinaCapital, among the biggest foreign-run asset managers in Vietnam, has forecast the country’s economy to achieve 6.5% growth in both 2024 and 2025, with the composition of the expansion to change to more domestically driven factors next year.
Economy - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 2:00 pm GMT+7
Major Vietnamese developer Novaland appoints new CEO
Duong Van Bac, who joined Novaland as chief financial officer in August 2023, has been appointed general director, starting Friday.
Companies - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 10:24 am GMT+7
Vietnamese conglomerate Bamboo Capital posts 36-fold profit growth in Q3
Ho Chi Minh City-based Bamboo Capital Group recorded an after-tax profit of VND331.2 billion ($13.1 million) in the third quarter of 2024, an astounding 36-fold expansion year-on-year.
Southeast Asia - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 9:41 am GMT+7
ThaiBev to bag $54 mln from Sabeco’s upcoming dividend payout
Vietnam Beverage, wholly owned by Thai Beverage (ThaiBev) will rake in VND1,374 billion ($54.26 million) worth of dividend from Ho Chi Minh City-based top brewer Sabeco.
Companies - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 9:13 am GMT+7
Steel heavyweight Hoa Phat pours over $2 bln into central Vietnam complex
Leading Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat had invested more than VND52.5 trillion ($2.08 billion) in its Dung Quat Iron and Steel Integrated Complex (Dung Quat 2) in the central province of Quang Ngai as of Q3/2024.
Industries - Sat, November 2, 2024 | 8:00 am GMT+7
Vietnam becomes Australia’s fastest-growing inbound market
The number of Vietnamese tourists to Australia has grown significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic, with nearly 178,000 reported in the 12 months to August 2024, according to a Friday press release by the Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism’s Office.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 10:02 pm GMT+7
Study finds shift in Thai consumers’ spending patterns
Consumers in Thailand are shifting their spending focus to experiences and investments, according to the latest ASEAN Consumer Sentiment Study (ACSS) by United Overseas Bank (UOB).
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 10:00 pm GMT+7
Energy security, digitalization key to Indonesia's economic growth
The Indonesian government is prioritizing long-term economic growth through energy security, digitalization, and natural resource industrialization, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Thomas Djiwandono.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 9:58 pm GMT+7
Vietnam PM's Middle East tour creates breakthroughs in economic, trade, investment cooperation: FM
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s freshly ended six-day trip to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar has produced important outcomes, demonstrating the growing relations between Vietnam and the three Middle-East countries, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told the Vietnam News Agency.
Politics - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 9:25 pm GMT+7
Vietnam, Qatar look to tap potential for energy, oil & gas collaboration
Vietnam and Qatar have recognized the significant potential for further collaboration in multiple sectors such as energy, oil and gas, especially LNG, agriculture, Halal industry, and banking.
Politics - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 9:02 pm GMT+7
Thailand bans export of raw palm oil until December
Thailand's Department of Internal Trade has temporarily banned the export of raw palm oil due to reduced production caused by drought and plant diseases.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 8:31 pm GMT+7
Envision Energy to build $420 mln wind power plant in Vietnam from June 2025
Envision Energy Singapore Pte Ltd, under China-based Envision Energy, aims to kick off construction of the 300-MW Envision Nam Po wind power plant in Vietnam’s northern mountainous province of Dien Bien in June 2025.
Energy - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 8:30 pm GMT+7
Indonesia to ban plastic waste imports from 2025
The Indonesian government will start imposing a ban on the import of plastic waste from the beginning of next year, according to Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurrofiq.
Southeast Asia - Fri, November 1, 2024 | 8:29 pm GMT+7
- Opinion
-
Vietnam's economy: positive changes but concerns persist
-
Slow administrative procedures hinder Korean investments in Vietnam: KoCham chair
-
Abundant real estate opportunities surround HCMC
-
Chinese e-commerce giant Temu's Vietnam entry: unfair competition or market economy norm?
-
Vietnam needs to modify FDI incentives to stay competitive amid global minimum tax application: expert
-
Bonds essential capital source for real estate market