Vietnam’s Q1 foreign tourist arrivals beat pre-pandemic level

Vietnam welcomed over 4.6 million international tourists in the first quarter of this year, up 72% year-on-year and exceeding the same period of pre-pandemic 2019 by 3.2%, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.

In March, the country drew nearly 1.6 million overseas travelers, up 4.4% month-on-month and 78.6% year-on-year.

By region, Asia remained the largest source of tourists to Vietnam in Q1, with more than 3.5 million arrivals, up 81.6% year-on-year. Trailing Asia is Europe with 661,800 (up 71.9%), the Americas with 143,700 (up 14.5%), and Oceania (up 37.2%).

Regarding countries and territories, South Korea has been leading the tourist rush to Vietnam since the latter’s reopening in March 2022 following the pandemic. South Korea made up the biggest share of 1.2 million in Q1, or 26.6%; followed by mainland China with 890,000 (19%), Taiwan with 300,000 (6.5%), and the U.S. with 232,000 (5%).

The Northeast Asian region has provided the biggest boost to Vietnam’s inbound tourism revival. Mainland China witnessed the fastest pace at 534.5%, trailed by Taiwan with 127.3%, Japan with 52.7%, and South Korea with 52%.

In the three-month spell, air travel was the most popular mode of transportation for foreign visitors to Vietnam, with nearly 3.9 million passenger arrivals (up 60.1% year-on-year).

Vietnam is on track to reach its goal of 18 million international visitors this year, remarked the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

At a parliamentary hearing on March 15, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was in talks with 15 countries about reciprocal visa exemptions and working with relevant authorities on entry simplification.

At present, Vietnam unilaterally waives visa requirements for citizens from Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus. They can stay for 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type and entry purpose.