Chinese tourists’ strong interest in Vietnamese destinations during Tet indicates a promising recovery in travel in Vietnam in 2024, according to Vu Ngoc Lam, director of Agoda in Vietnam.
Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Nha Trang (a popular beach city in south-central Khanh Hoa Province), Da Nang, and Phu Quoc Island off southern Kien Giang Province were among the most searched destinations in Vietnam by Chinese travelers.
Vietnam has become a favorite destination for Chinese visitors due to its diverse cultural features and stunning landscapes.
In 2020, China ranked first among countries searching for Vietnam tourism.
However, the COVID-19 outbreak in 2021 and border closures prevented Chinese tourists from traveling to Vietnam.
Following the easing of travel restrictions between the two countries, the search volume from China for Vietnam in 2022 and 2023 accounted for only three percent of the number recorded in 2020.
China used to be the world’s largest tourist source market, with Southeast Asia being one of the most popular destinations for Chinese tourists.
However, Vietnam and other countries in the region have seen a decrease in Chinese arrivals since the global pandemic was brought under control.
In 2023, China sent approximately 1.74 million tourists to Vietnam, making it the second-largest source market for the country.
Prior to the pandemic, China was always Vietnam’s biggest source market, with over 5.8 million Chinese travelers visiting in 2019, according to local media.
The Outbox Company, a market intelligence firm in Vietnam specializing in travel, hospitality, destinations, and tourism, attributed the decline in Chinese arrivals to the country’s slow post-pandemic economic recovery.
As a result, the number of Chinese tourists entering Southeast Asian countries remained minimal in 2023.
Some countries in the region, such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, have waived visa requirements for Chinese citizens in order to attract these tourists to their countries.
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