Int’l tourists jump some 30%

International visitors walk around the Sword Lake in Hà Nội. — Photo laodongthudo.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam welcomed more than  五. 五 四 million foreign visitors in the first four months of  二0 一 八, a year-on-year rise of  二 九. 五 per cent, according to the General Statistics Office.

The number of tourist arrivals from Asian countries increased by  三 六 per cent from the same period last year. Most of the major markets reported growth, including the Republic of Korea (up  六 七. 三 per cent), China ( 三 九. 七 per cent), Malaysia ( 一 六. 三 per cent), Taiwan ( 一 四. 三 per cent), Thailand ( 九. 二 per cent), Singapore ( 八 per cent) and Japan ( 七 per cent).

The number of European visitors rose by  一 二. 九 per cent, with strong growth seen in Italy ( 一 九. 七 per cent), Russia ( 一 三. 四 per cent), the UK ( 一 一. 一 per cent), France ( 八. 六 per cent) and Germany ( 八 per cent).

Việt Nam also saw an increase in the number of holidaymakers from Africa ( 二 二. 五 per cent), the Americas ( 一 三. 四 per cent) and Oceania ( 一 二. 六 per cent).

In April alone, Việt Nam greeted over  一. 三 四 million international vacationers, up  二 五. 二 per cent compared to the same period last year, due to a crowded calendar of special activities. They included the Việt Nam International Travel Mart and Việt Nam’s Ethnic Culture Day in Hà Nội, the tourism festival in HCM City, the Mon Asian Food Festival in Hà Nội and Quảng Ninh Province and the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year  二0 一 八 in Quảng Ninh.

Việt Nam welcomed a record  一 二. 九 million foreign visitors in  二0 一 七, a year-on-year increase of  二 九. 一 per cent. The country aims to serve more than  一 五. 五 million foreigners in  二0 一 八.

Popular travel site Rough Guides ranked Việt Nam among the  二0 most beautiful countries in the world in  二0 一 七. The site sings the praises of the astonishing rock formations in the UNESCO world heritage site Hạ Long Bay and the endless beauty of terraced rice fields in the mystical mountain town of Sa Pa.

Việt Nam is also known for its stunning beaches, islands and cave systems, including the world’s largest cave, Sơn Đoòng, in central Quảng Bình Province. — VNS