HCM City’s tourism shows positive signs with return of Chinese visitors
Travel firms in Ho Chi Minh City have launched tours between Vietnam and China as soon as China decided to include Vietnam in the list of countries to which Chinese group tours can be conducted from March 15.
Foreign tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City's Post Office. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Travel firms in Ho Chi MinhCity have launched tours between Vietnam and China as soon as China decided toinclude Vietnam in the list of countries to which Chinese group tours can beconducted from March 15. According to the city’s businesses, more Chinese touristgroups will arrive in the city this month and April will be the peak time marking the return of Chinese tourists to Vietnam. On the contrary, the number of Vietnamese tourists booking toursto China will also increase, helping to stimulate demand in thetourism markets of the two countries in the coming time. The forecast is based on the huge tourism demand of Chinesetourists after about three years of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic andVietnam being one of the Chinese tourists’ favourite destinations. In addition, Vietnamese businesses have developed high-qualityand oriented products and services for specific tourist segments. Accompanying the businesscommunity, the city’s Department of Tourism has just coordinated with theZhangjiajie city People's Committee in China’s Hunan province and the VietnamGlobal International Travel Group Joint Stock Company to organise a tourismpromotion conference in Zhangjiajie city.
Wang Tao, Vice Chairman of the Zhangjiajie City People’sCommittee, said that tourism promotion activities are important at this time.
🌃 Zhangjiajie city is home to a world natural heritage, aworld geopark, a national park, ancient cultural works, and modernarchitecture that attract tourists in recent times.
Zhangjiajie city's government hopes that tourism andcultural promotion events will promote the exchange of tourist delegations betweenVietnam and China, thereby restoring the "smokeless industries" of both countries. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department ofTourism, emphasised that China is one of the key markets for the city's tourism industry.Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, China ranked third among the sources of internationalvisitors to HCM City, with 1.2 million arrivals in 2019, accounting for20% of the total number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam. Particularly, in the first three months of 2023, the number of Chinese touriststo HCM City reached about 49,000. Meanwhile, following China’s decision to reopen tourism, theConsulate General of China in HCM City started accepting touristvisa applications for both group and individual tourists. Travelers to China are required to show a certificate of twodoses of COVID-19 vaccine and rapid testing before departure.
Currently, international travelers to Zhangjiajie city are stillrequired to take COVID-19 rapid tests. Upon entering China, internationaltravelers continue to be randomly selected for rapid testing. Some travelcompanies have suggested Chinese agencies soon remove barriers related toCOVID-19 rapid testing and creating favourable conditions in terms of visa policy so thatforeign tourists conveniently travel to the country.
꧋ Vietnam received 1.8 million foreign tourist arrivals in the firsttwo months of 2023. With China now resuming outbound tours, the country isexpected to exceed the target of welcoming 8 million foreign travelers thisyear./.
The central coastal province of Binh Thuan has completed preparations for the opening of Visit Vietnam Year 2023 with the theme “Binh Thuan - Green convergence,” which will officially be held on March 25 night, heard a meeting held by the provincial People’s Committee on March 20.
The central province of Quang Binh, which is a popular tourist destination thanks to its rich natural landscapes with a spectacular cave system and beautiful beaches, has prepared diverse tourism products to draw domestic and foreign tourists during this year’s peak tourism season in summer.
Vietnam needs to have support policies for developing new tourism products and services capable of attracting high-spending international visitors, said insiders.
E-visa holders might be able to stay in Vietnam for up to 90 days, three times longer than the current 30 days, according to a proposed amended Law on Foreigners’ Entry into, Exit from, Transit Through, and Residence in Vietnam.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Foreign tourists visit Ho Chi Minh City's Post Office. (Photo: VNA) 
