Tourism in Vietnam


Tourism in Vietnam is a component of the modern Vietnamese economy. In 2019, Vietnam received 18 million international arrivals, up from 2.1 million in the year 2000. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is following a long-term plan to diversify the tourism industry, which brings foreign exchange into the country.
Tourist arrivals in Vietnam have continued to rise in recent years. In 2008, Vietnam received 4.218 million international tourists, in 2009 the number was 3.8 million, down 11%. In 2012, Vietnam received 6.84 million tourists. This was a 13% increase from 2011 figure of 6 million international visitors, which was itself a rise of 2 million visitors relative to 2010 arrivals. In 2016, Vietnam welcomed 10 million international visitors which represented a 26% increase from the previous year.

Tourism in the economy

Tourism is important in Vietnam. For backpackers, culture and nature lovers, beach-lovers, military soldiers and veterans, Vietnam has become a new tourist destination in Southeast Asia. Local and international tour operators offer tours to ethnic minority groups, walking and bicycle tours, photography tours, kayak trips and multi-country trips in particular with neighboring Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Foreign tourists have been able to travel freely in the country since 1997.
The economy of Vietnam has transformed from an agrarian to a service economy. More than a third of gross domestic product is generated by services, which include the hotel and catering industry and transportation. The manufacturing and construction, agriculture and fisheries and mining have much smaller shares.
Tourism contributes 4.5 percent to gross domestic product. After heavy industry and urban development, most foreign investment in Vietnam has been concentrated in tourism, especially in hotel projects.
According to usual report of World Tourism and Travel Council, tourism contributed 6.6 percent to GDP equal VND 279,287 billion which has important contribution promoting development of related sectors such as transportation, entertainment, cuisine etc.
Vietnam has recently started tourist slogans, known as "Vietnam Timeless Charm".

Tourism statistics

International visitors

Data source: Ministry of Culture, Sport & Tourism
YearTourist
Arrivals		Change
3/20203,686,7791.9%
201918,008,59116.2%
201815,497,79119.9%
201712,922,15129.1%
201610,012,73526%
20157,943,6510.9%
20147,874,3124%
20137,572,35210.60%
20126,847,67810.8%
20116,014,03219.1%
20105,049,85534.8%
20093,772,359−10.9%
20084,253,7400.6%
20074,171,56416%
20063,583,4863%
20053,467,75718.4%
20042,927,87620.5%
20032,429,600−7.6%
20022,628,20012.8%
20012,330,8008.9%
20002,140,10020.0%
19991,781,80017.2%
19981,520,100−11.4%
19971,715,6006.7%
19961,607,20018.9%
19951,351,300

Top 29 International Visitors in Vietnam

Data Source: Ministry of Culture, Sport & Tourism
RankCountry3/2020201920182017201620152014201320122011
1China871,8195,806,4254,966,4684,008,2532,696,8481,780,9181,947,2361,907,7941,428,6931,416,804
2South Korea819,0894,290,8023,485,4062,415,2451,543,8831,112,978847,958748,727700,917536,408
3Russia244,966646,524606,637574,164433,987338,843364,873298,126174,287101,600
4Japan200,346951,962826,674798,119740,592671,379647,956604,050576,386481,519
5Taiwan192,216926,744714,112616,232507,301438,704388,998398,990409,385361,051
6USA172,706746,171687,226614,117552,644491,249443,776432,228443,826439,872
7Thailand*125,725509,802349,310301,587266,984214,645246,874268,968225,866181,820
8Cambodia*120,430227,910202,954222,614211,949227,074404,159342,347331,939423,440
9Malaysia*116,221606,206540,119480,456407,574346,584332,994339,510299,041233,132
10Australia92,227383,511386,934370,438320,678303,721321,089319,636289,844289,762
11United Kingdom81,433315,084298,114283,537254,841212,798202,256184,663170,346156,300
12France74,480287,655279,659255,369240,808211,636213,745209,946219,721211,444
13Germany61,465226,792213,986199,872176,015149,079142,34597,673106,06845,000
14Singapore*51,726308,969286,246277,658257,041236,547202,436195,760196,225172,500
15Canada41,807159,121149,535138,242122,929105,670104,291104,973113,563TBA
16Philippines*36,969179,190151,641133,543110,96799,757103,403100,50199,192TBA
17Laos*36,81098,492120,009141,588137,004113,992136,636122,873150,678118,500
18Sweden21,85750,70449,72344,04537,67932,02532,46631,49335,735TBA
19Indonesia*21,446106,68887,94181,06569,65362,24068,62870,39060,857TBA
20Netherlands18,26581,09277,30072,27764,71252,96749,12047,41345,862TBA
21Italy17,77470,79865,56258,04151,26540,29136,42732,14331,337TBA
22Denmark14,44442,04339,92634,72030,99627,41427,02925,64927,970TBA
23Spain11,78383,59777,07169,52857,95744,93240,71633,18331,305TBA
24Switzerland10,84536,57734,54133,12331,47528,75029,73828,42328,740TBA
25Finland9,99421,48022,78518,23615,95315,04313,83114,66016,204TBA
26New Zealand9,47047,08849,85449,11542,58831,96033,12030,95726,621TBA
27Norway8,95828,03726,13424,29323,11021,42522,70821,15719,928TBA
28Belgium7,45234,18731,38229,14426,23123,93923,22721,57218,914TBA
29Hong Kong3,78051,61862,20847,72134,613TBA14,60110,23213,383TBA
AllTotal3,686,77918,008,59115,497,79112,922,15110,012,7357,943,6517,874,3127,572,3526,847,6786,014,032

* Country in ASEAN

Destinations and attractions

National parks of Vietnam

Vietnam has 31 national parks: Ba Bể, Ba Vì, Bạch Mã, Bái Tử Long, Bến En, Bidoup Núi Bà, Bù Gia Mập, Cát Bà, Cát Tiên, Chư Mom Ray, Chư Yang Sin, Côn Đảo, Cúc Phương, Hoàng Liên, Kon Ka Kinh, Lò Gò-Xa Mát, Cape Cà Mau, Núi Chúa, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng, Phú Quốc, Phước Bình, Pù Mát, Tam Đảo, Tràm Chim, U Minh Hạ, U Minh Thượng, Vũ Quang, Xuân Sơn, Xuân Thủy, Yok Đôn.

World Heritage Sites

, Hội An, Mỹ Sơn, Hạ Long Bay, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long and Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty. Hạ Long Bay is one of New Seven Natural Wonders of the world.

Man and the Biosphere Programme

Vietnam has eight zones that are world biosphere reserves: Red River Delta, Cát Bà National Park, western Nghệ An, Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, Cape Cà Mau National Park, Cát Tiên National Park and Cần Giờ.

National tourist area

now has 21 national tourist areas, major tourist sites that are state recognized:
Sa Pa, Ba Bể, Hạ Long Bay – Cát Bà Island, Ba Vì National Park, Perfume Pagoda, Cổ Loa Citadel, Tam Cốc-Bích Động, Kim Liên, Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Ho Chi Minh trail, Lăng Cô – Hải Vân Pass – Non Nuoc, Hội An, Van Phong Bay, Phan Thiết – Mũi Né, Dankia – Yellow Springs, Lake Tuyen Lam, Cần Giờ Mangrove Forest, Côn Đảo, Long Hai beach, Phú Quốc, Biosphere Reserve Cape Cà Mau.

Cities

Since 2014, Hanoi has consistently been voted in the world's top ten destinations by TripAdvisor. It ranked 8th in 2014, 4th in 2015 and 8th in 2016.
In 2014, Hanoi, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City appeared in TripAdvisor's 2014 Traveler's Choice Awards for the top 25 destinations in Asia. Hanoi was ranked second, Hoi An tenth and Ho Chi Minh City eighteenth.

International tourist arrivals

International airports

Air travel is the most popular form of travel for international arrivals to Vietnam; in 2013, nearly 6 million of the 7.6 million total international arrivals were by air.
Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which serves Ho Chi Minh City, is the busiest airport with the largest visitor volume. On the other hand, Noi Bai International Airport, serving Hanoi, is the largest airport in terms of land area and total capacity after its opening of the modern international terminal. Other major airports include Da Nang International Airport, Cam Ranh International Airport and Cat Bi International Airport.

Military tourism

Throughout thousands of years, wars played a great role in shaping the identity and culture of people inhabited the land which is modern day Vietnam,
There are numerous historical sites from Ancient Vietnam to the First Indochina War and the Second Indochina War.
Most Notable Ancient Sites Include;
Most Notable places from the First and Second Indochina War for tourists are;
Various tour groups, including Saigon Hotpot, Dana Dragon Free, Hanoi Kids, offer free travel guides for foreign travelers.