On February 27th, research data from international travel agency Agoda showed that Vietnam is becoming a popular tourist destination in China in early 2024. In particular, the search volume from China to Vietnam during the Lunar New Year of the Snake has almost recovered compared to before the pandemic.
Chinese tourists show great interest in Vietnam at the beginning of 2024.
Specifically, the percentage of Chinese people interested in traveling to Vietnam in early 2024 reached 95% compared to 2020 when travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic were in place.
According to a report from the General Statistics Office, China contributed 242,000 visitors in January, a sharp increase compared to the previous month, leading in terms of foreign visitors to Vietnam (inbound). If we consider the whole year of 2023, Vietnam welcomed over 1.74 million Chinese visitors, a 376% increase compared to the previous year.
Notably, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc Island are among the top 5 choices for Chinese tourists.
Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam – Director of Agoda Vietnam – shared that according to statistics, Chinese tourists became the largest source of tourism revenue for Vietnam in 2019, accounting for nearly 1/3 of the total number of tourists to our country. The search data for this Lunar New Year reached a pre-pandemic level, which is a positive signal for Vietnam’s tourism industry.
In 2020, China became the top country in terms of searching for travel information in Vietnam. Our country attracts this customer segment thanks to attractive travel costs (transportation, accommodation, dining), while offering unique experiences. Along with that, the favorable exchange rate between the Chinese Yuan and the Vietnamese Dong, and the advantage of short-haul flights between the two countries also make travelers feel more comfortable when visiting Vietnam.
“The return of Chinese tourists is a sign of Vietnam’s tourism potential in 2024. Vietnam has also succeeded in attracting tourists from new markets such as India and South Korea after reopening due to favorable visa policies,” said an Agoda representative.
However, since the pandemic, the number of Chinese tourists has not reached expectations. Market research company Outbox Company explains that the main reason is the slower-than-expected economic recovery in China. People in this country are still tightening their expenses and are not willing to spend money to travel abroad. Therefore, the percentage of Chinese visitors to Southeast Asian countries is still low, ranging from 14-39% in 2023.
