Vietnam anticipates surge in foreign arrivals over coming months

Pham Duy Nghia, director of Vietfoot Travel, stated that his firm has prepared a total of 25 50-seater buses to welcome a delegation of up to 1,000 people, including many international tourists from the UK and Sri Lanka wishing to tour Quang Ninh province which is home to UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay.

“Currently, international visitors have begun to make bookings, but they are mainly in small groups. Large groups of tourists normally come to Vietnam at the beginning of next year, and plans to welcome them are being deployed by tour operators,” said Nghia.

Sharing this perspective, Tran The Dung, general director of Fiditour, revealed his company has recently received several groups of international holidaymakers who all gave extremely positive feedback about their trips.

“At this time of year, main groups of tourists numbering about 20-30 usually choose trans-Vietnam tours or travel to Ho Chi Minh City and the Western region,” said Dung after receiving a group of visitors from Poland.

“There is a positive sign that the number of international visitors to Vietnam is increasing gradually. As Vietnam has opened its doors without any barriers, there is no reason why we cannot welcome large groups of visitors up to hundreds of individuals. It's just a matter of time,” Dung said with optimism.

According to the executive, this positive feedback will lay the foundations for foreign travel companies to promote tourism in Vietnam moving forward.

“The tourism industry has written a success story over the past months in which travel companies have welcomed groups of up to thousands of local holidaymakers. It would not be difficult for the companies if there are such large groups of international tourists coming to Vietnam in the coming months. Given the positive sign at present, I expect large international delegations will return to Vietnam more regularly in the second quarter of 2023,” analysed Dung.

Concurring with Dung’s point of view, Pham Duy Nghia of Vietfood Travel said tour operators have prepared financial and personnel plans ahead of receiving hordes of international travelers in the months of the year. He also suggested that Vietnam should be promoted, not only as a destination to explore natural landscapes, historic relics, and distinctive culture, but also as a centre for event organisation and tourism combined with convalescence.

“Vietnam is ready to host groups of tourists coming for MICE services (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions). Our infrastructure and facilities are not inferior to any other markets in Southeast Asia and Asia,” said Nghia.

“Vietnam is emerging as one of the attractive destinations that is not only about discovering the beauty of the natural landscape, but also experiencing the unique cultures. If we promote this segment of tourists, it will make the market more attractive,” he emphasised.

Vietnam received 1.87 million foreign visitors in the Jan. – Sept. period and it aims to attract five million foreign travelers this year.