The first quarter figures were around 60% of pre-pandemic levels and one-third of this year's 8-million target, according to a report released by the General Statistics Office (GSO) on Wednesday. The number is less than half of Thailand's 6.15 million arrivals.

A foreign tourist rides a bicycle in Hoi An Town, central Vietnam, January 2023.

Arrivals from Asian countries to Vietnam surged 33 times year-on-year to 1.93 million, accounting for over half of total foreign arrivals in the first three months of this year, according to the GSO report.

Tourists from Europe increased by 23 times to 385,000.

Following repeated calls from industry insiders to relax immigration policies, the government announced it will ask the National Assembly, Vietnam's highest legislative body, to resume the three-month visa policy for foreigners entering Vietnam.

The National Assembly's next meeting is in May.

At present, the country only offers a one-month, single-entry e-visa to visitors from 80 countries.

Despite being one of the first Southeast Asian countries to fully reopen to international tourism post Covid, Vietnam received only 3.6 million foreign tourists last year, around 20% of the pre-pandemic figure.

Chinese tourists return to Vietnam

Several Chinese tour groups arrived in Vietnam Wednesday, the day China resumed outbound tours to the country, including a large one of 124 people.

Vietnam travel firms race to improve service before Chinese tourists return

Travel firms are rushing to hire staff and upgrade the quality of hotel and restaurant services as Chinese tourists prepare to return to Vietnam beginning Wednesday.

Suoi Mo ecotourism site welcomes over 35,000 tourist arrivals

(BGO) – Since early this year, Suoi Mo ecotourism site in Luc Nam district (Bac Giang province) has welcomed more than 35,000 tourist arrivals, 14,000 of which flocked to the destination in February, reported the Site Management Board.

Top 10 hospitable tourist destinations in Vietnam in 2022

Vietnam's tourism sector officially entered the recovery stage after a long hiatus caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Acknowledging an increase in demand of search for destinations, US-based online booking travel agency Booking.com announced top 10 most hospitable tourist destinations in Vietnam in 2022.

Hanoi among world's 100 best tourist cities

Hanoi has been ranked 97th in a global listing of the 100 best tourist cities in the world, according to leading tourism advisory firm Resonance Consultancy.

Source: VnExpress