Tourism in Vietnam

Hạ Long Bay
The Imperial City of Huế

Tourism in Vietnam is a significant component of the modern Vietnamese economy. In 2012, Vietnam received more than 6.8 million international arrivals, up from 2.1 million in the year 2000. The annual increase represented a strong rebound from a slight decline in 2008 Great Recession. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is following a long-term plan to diversify the tourism industry, which brings needed foreign exchange into the country.[1]

Tourist arrivals in Vietnam have continued to rise in recent years. In 2008, Vietnam received 4.218 million international passengers, in 2009 the number was 3.8 million, down 11%. In 2012, Vietnam receives 6.84 million tourists.[2] 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.[3][4]

Tourism in the economy

Tourism is increasingly important in Vietnam. For backpackers, culture and nature lovers, beach-lovers and veterans touring the country for a long time, Vietnam has emerged itself as a new tourist destination in Southeast Asia and on is now on lists in magazines worldwide. Hotel investors especially the potential of the 3000-kilometer-long coast line and the big cities. The tourism offer has been increasingly diversified. Local and international tour operators offer tours to ethnic minority groups, walking and bicycle tours, kayak trips and multi-country trips in particular in connection with neighboring Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. In addition, thanks to the lift of several movement regulations, 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 (28 percent), agriculture and fisheries (20 percent) and mining (10 percent) have much smaller shares.[5]

Meanwhile, tourism contributes 4.5 percent to gross domestic product (as of 2007). More and more foreign direct investment has been focused on tourism. After the heavy industry and urban development, most foreign investment has been concentrated in tourism, especially in hotel projects .[6]

Vietnam government has taken many measures for promotion of tourism. Ministry of tourism provided incentives for converting normal hotels in luxury. Also an aggressive promotion of Vietnam tourism run on magazines and TV channels.

As of 2013, the Vietnam government has intended to invest no less than $94.2 billion towards its tourism infrastructure. Vietnam's tourism sector predicts 7.2 million international tourists and revenue of up to $9.1 billion for 2013.

Tourism statistics

International visitors

Data source: Ministry of Culture, Sport & Tourism [7]

YearTourism
Arrivals		Change
19951,351,300 
19961,607,20018.9%
19971,715,6006.7%
19981,520,100−11.4%
19991,781,80017.2%
20002,140,10020.0%
20012,330,8008.9%
20022,628,20012.8%
20032,429,600−7.6%
20042,927,87620.5%
20053,467,75718.4%
20063,583,4863%
20074,171,56416%
20084,253,7400.6%
20093,772,359−10.9%
20105,049,85534.8%
20116,014,03219.1%
20126,847,67810.8%
20137,572,35210,6%
20147,874,3124%

Top 10 International Visitors in Vietnam

Data Source: Ministry of Culture, Sport & Tourism [3]

RankCountry 2014 2013 2012 2011
1 China 1,947,236 1,907,794 1,428,693 1,416,804
2 South Korea 847,958 748,727 700,917 536,408
3 Japan 647,956 604,050 576,386 481,519
4 United States 443,776 432,228 443,826 439,872
5 Cambodia 404,159 342,347 331,939 423,440
6 Taiwan 388,998 398,990 409,385 361,051
7 Russia 364,873 298,126 174,287 N/A
8 Malaysia 332,994 339,510 299,041 233,132
9 Australia 321,089 319,636 289,844 289,762
10 Thailand 246,874 268,968 225,866 181,820

Destinations and attractions

Hotel Metropôle Hanoi

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

Thiên Đường Cave in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park, Quảng Bình Province

Huế, Hội An, Mỹ Sơn (Quảng Nam Province), Hạ Long Bay (Quảng Ninh Province), Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park (Quảng Bình Province), Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long (Hanoi) and Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty (Thanh Hóa Province).

Man and the Biosphere Programme

Vietnam has eight zones that are world biosphere reserves: Red River Delta (Ninh Bình, Nam Định, Thái Bình), Cát Bà National Park (Hai Phong), western Nghệ An, Cu Lao Cham Marine Park, Cape Cà Mau National Park (Cà Mau), Cát Tiên National Park (Đồng Nai) and Cần Giờ (Ho Chi Minh City).

National tourist area

Vietnam now has 21 national tourist areas, major tourist sites that are state recognized:

Sa Pa (Lào Cai), Ba Bể (Bắc Kạn), Hạ Long Bay – Cát Bà Island (Quảng Ninh, Hai Phong), Ba Vì National Park (Hanoi), Perfume Pagoda (Hanoi), Cổ Loa Citadel (Hanoi), Tam Cốc-Bích Động (Ninh Bình), Kim Liên (Nghệ An), Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park (Quảng Bình), Ho Chi Minh trail (Quảng Trị), Lăng Cô – Hải Vân Pass – Non Nuoc (Thừa Thiên–Huế and Da Nang), Hội An (Quảng Nam), Van Phong Bay (Khánh Hòa), Phan Thiết – Mũi Né (Bình Thuận), Dankia – Yellow Springs, Lake Tuyen Lam (Lâm Đồng), For Hours (Ho Chi Minh City), Côn Đảo (Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu), Long Hai beach (Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu), Phú Quốc (Kiên Giang), Biosphere Reserve Cape Cà Mau (Cà Mau).

Cities

The ten most visited cities in Vietnam: Hanoi – the capital, Ho Chi Minh City – the largest city in Vietnam, Hai Phong – third largest city, Da Nang – the largest city in central Vietnam, Cần Thơ – the largest city in Mekong Delta (4th in Vietnam), Huế – Capital of Vietnam during the Nguyễn Dynasty, Nha Trang – One of the largest cities in the South Central Coast, Phan Thiết – with Mui Ne, "Resort capital of Vietnam",[8] Da Lat, Vũng Tàu, Hồ Tràm.

In 2014, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hoi An appeared in TripAdvisor's 2014 Traveler's Choice Awards for the top 25 destinations in Asia. Hanoi was ranked second.[9]

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 was by air.[10]

Tan Son Nhat International Airport, which serves Ho Chi Minh City, is the most popular airport for international travelers. This airport is classified as being the biggest in the country in volume and runway length. Other major airports include Noi Bai International Airport and Da Nang International Airport, the second and third largest airports in the country, respectively.

Military history

There are numerous historical sites from the First Indochina War and the Second Indochina War.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Vietnam country profile. Library of Congress Federal Research Division (December 2005). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ↑ http://www.vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php?cat=012041&itemid=6308
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "International visitors to Vietnam in December and 12 months of 2011". Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  4. ↑ "Statistics for 2010". General Statistics Office. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  5. ↑ http://www.gtai.de/ext/anlagen/PubAnlage_6108.pdf
  6. ↑ http://www.gtai.de/ext/anlagen/PubAnlage_5861.pdf
  7. ↑ "Tourism Statistics". Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  8. ↑ Places of Interest in Binh Thuan
  9. ↑ Tripadvisor 2014 Traveler's Choice Awards, Top Destinations - Asia
  10. ↑ Vietnam National Administration of Tourism International Visitors Statistics 2013

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vietnam.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Vietnam.