Tourism Recovery: Return of Chinese Tourists
According to the latest data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first seven months of 2024, international tourist arrivals reached nearly 10 million, up 51% year-on-year and 1.9% compared to the same period in 2019. In July alone, international tourist arrivals to Vietnam reached 1.15 million, a 10.9% increase year-on-year.
Among international tourist markets, the return of Chinese tourists is particularly noteworthy. In the first seven months of 2024, Chinese tourist arrivals to Vietnam reached 2.1 million, a 200% increase compared to the same period in 2023, second only to South Korean tourists. This data fully reflects the booming trend of China-Vietnam tourism.
Dr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, pointed out that post-pandemic tourism cooperation between the two countries has achieved significant results. He emphasized that the friendly cooperative relationship between the two countries is an important factor in promoting tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.
Deepening Cooperation: Joint Efforts
To further promote tourism development, both Vietnam and China have taken active measures. Vietnam plans to send delegations to Sichuan-Chongqing and Beijing-Shanghai in China to promote Vietnamese tourism, and participate in important events such as international tourism exhibitions and the China-ASEAN Tourism Expo.
China has continuously optimized its entry and exit policies, improved tourism service quality, and diversified payment methods. Meanwhile, China actively promotes unique tourism destinations such as Nanning, Zhangjiajie, and Hainan in Vietnam. In August 2024, Zhangjiajie and Nanning held tourism promotion events in Hanoi, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese tourism resources.
Cross-border Tourism: Creating Golden Routes
Notably, China’s Yunnan Province Red River Prefecture and several regions in Vietnam jointly launched the “Two Countries, Six Destinations” golden tourism route, laying a solid foundation for cross-border tourism cooperation. This route has become a model for cooperation between tourism enterprises of both countries.
The strengthening of air connectivity has further promoted the development of tourism between the two countries. In June 2024, several direct flight routes were launched, including charter flights from Haiphong to Lijiang, and routes from Hanoi to Haikou and Chongqing, providing convenience for travel agencies from both countries to expand their market reach.
Targeting High-end: Enhancing Tourism Quality
Industry experts point out that Vietnam’s tourism industry should focus on developing high-end tourist markets from major Chinese cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. Pham Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Hanoi UNESCO Travel Club, believes that the recovery of the Chinese tourist market will be an opportunity for Vietnam’s tourism industry to take off, but Vietnam needs to attract higher quality and more sustainable tourists.
Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of AZA Travel, stated that Vietnam’s ocean and island tours have always been popular among Chinese tourists. He suggested that Vietnam’s tourism industry should reposition itself as a luxury destination rather than a budget travel destination. In addition to creating unique tourism products, Vietnam also needs to strengthen infrastructure construction to meet the needs of high-end tourists.
With the significant growth in tourist numbers in 2024, Vietnam’s tourism industry is confident in achieving its goal of receiving 17-18 million international tourists and 100 million domestic tourists for the full year. Looking ahead, the prospects for tourism cooperation between China and Vietnam are bright. Through joint efforts, the two countries are expected to create more mutually beneficial opportunities in the tourism sector, further promoting bilateral relations.
