The figure is expected to be higher next month as more foreigners and overseas Vietnamese will come to Vietnam for the Lunar New Year holidays and festivals.

Most of foreign visitors will fly to Vietnam, but the number of visitors coming to the country by ship, especially via Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City seaports, will increase sharply.

Vietnam has signed a cooperation agreement with Italy to step up tourism promotion. The country has also agreed in principle with Laos and Thailand on the transport of tourists between the three countries.