International visitors to Vietnam in November are the highest since the beginning of the year

According to data released by the National Tourism Administration on the morning of December 6, Vietnam welcomed more than 1.7 million international visitors in November; an increase of more than 20% compared to October. Compared to before the pandemic, the number of visitors in November this year was 94% compared to the same period in 2019.

Arrivals by air accounted for the largest number, with more than 1.4 million arrivals, followed by road with more than 277,000 arrivals and by sea with 32,000 arrivals.

In the first 11 months, the number of international visitors to Vietnam is estimated at nearly 16 million, an increase of more than 40% over the same period in 2023 and is about to reach the target set at the beginning of the year, 17-18 million visitors.

According to tourism experts, the surge in the number of visitors in November this year is not unusual because Vietnam is in the peak international tourist season, from October to March. Vietnam's historic month of welcoming international visitors was November 2019, with more than 1.8 million arrivals.

South Korea remained the largest source of visitors to Vietnam in November as well as in 11 months, with nearly 400,000 arrivals. Mainland China ranked second with nearly 340,000 arrivals in November. The remaining names in the top 10 include visitors from Taiwan, Japan, India, the US, Cambodia, and Australia.

This month saw a spike in the number of French visitors, with more than 33,000 arrivals, up 144% compared to October and placing it in the top 12 markets sending the most visitors to Vietnam. Singapore ranked 11th, with more than 35,000 arrivals.

In terms of growth, European countries recorded the highest increase in November. Of which, Poland increased by more than 330% compared to October. The next names include Italy, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, UK, Germany.

In the Asia-Pacific region, markets sending visitors to Vietnam with high growth in November include the Philippines, Cambodia, India, Singapore, and Malaysia.

In the first 11 months of the year, South Korea continued to be the largest market sending visitors to Vietnam with 4.1 million arrivals; accounting for 26% of the international visitor market share. Mainland China, Taiwan, Japan, India, Malaysia, the US, Australia, and Cambodia were the next largest markets. The UK was the largest European market sending visitors to Vietnam in the first 11 months, with more than 279,000 arrivals, followed by France, Germany, and Russia.

Lux Group CEO Pham Ha commented that the large number of international visitors is a good thing, but the tourism industry should also focus on revenue per visitor and length of stay when coming to Vietnam.

"A moderate number of guests who spend a lot and stay long is still more beneficial than a large number of guests who spend little," said Mr. Ha.