Vietnam tourism energising during Lunar New Year 2024

During Lunar New Year holiday, from 8th to 14th February 2024, the country’s tourism industry was estimated to welcome and serve 10.5 million domestic visitor trips (an increase of 16.6% over the same period in 2023); including about 3.5 million overnight visitors (up 75% over the same period in 2023); average room capacity was estimated at about 45 – 50% at the tourist accommodation system (in which high-end tourist accommodation facilities from 4 to 5 stars in some key tourist localities reach higher capacity, focusing on the 3rd and 4th days of Tet (12th and 13th February).

The Lunar New Year holiday also recorded a high increase in the number of international visitors to many localities: Da Nang was estimated to welcome nearly 177,000 visitor arrivals; Ha Noi with nearly 103,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 2.2 times compared to the same period in 2023; Ninh Binh with nearly 100,000 visitor arrivals; Quang Nam with 97,000 arrivals, an increase of 42%; Quang Ninh welcomed 89,767 arrivals; Ho Chi Minh City with 75,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 15.4% over the same period in 2023; Kien Giang welcomed 44,370 arrivals, an increase of 4.8 times compared to the same period in 2023; Lam Dong welcomed 20,000 visitor arrivals… The number of international visitors to Vietnam continues to increase compared to the New Year 2024 and the same period in 2023 thanks to the effect of favourable visa policies, the right orientation in restructuring the tourist markets, the efforts of businesses and localities and promotion activities are widely deployed.

With the 7-day Lunar New Year holiday and favourable weather, tourism activities are vibrant and bustling in almost all tourist destinations in the country. Tourists tend to choose famous heritage, spiritual and cultural destinations in localities. Destinations in the northern mountains also attracted crowds because this area begins its most beautiful season when plum blossoms, apricot blossoms, and wild peach blossoms bloom. The trend of self-sufficient travel, small groups, families, and self-booking services at the destination is increasing, especially in destinations close to source markets such as Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Some localities have cooperated with airlines and travel businesses to organise welcoming visitors, creating excitement for tourists on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Many tourist areas and destinations across the country have also proactively prepared special themes “7 days of Tet, 7 themes” to create an impression to attract tourists to visit and have fun. A number of creative tourism products, combining high technology (light technology, 3D technology, real scenery,…) attract a large number of people and tourists to visit and experience.

As a result, a number of destinations have attracted a large number of visitors such as Ha Noi, Tam Chuc (Ha Nam), Trang An (Ninh Binh), Sa Pa (Lao Cai), Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Hoi An (Quang Nam), Da Lat (Lam Dong), Ho Chi Minh City… The number of visitors during the Lunar New Year 2024 in some key localities is as follows:

Ho Chi Minh City was estimated to welcome and serve 1.8 million visitor arrivals, an increase of 5.9%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 6,550 billion, an increase of 4% over the same period in 2023. Quang Ninh was estimated to serve 803,570 visitor arrivals, an increase of 56%. Ha Noi was estimated to serve 653,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 21.6%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 2,350 billion, an increase of 35.1%. Thanh Hoa was estimated to serve 635,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 48.7%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 588 billion, an increase of 51.2%. Khanh Hoa served 630,300 visitor arrivals, including 191,000 overnight visitors, an increase of 25.8%; Total tourist receipts reached nearly VND 878 billion. Ba Ria – Vung Tau was estimated to serve 592,650 visitor arrivals, an increase of 36.0%; Total tourist receipts reached over VND 409 billion, an increase of 12.7%. Ninh Binh was estimated to serve 580,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 46%. Tay Ninh was estimated to serve 520,720 visitor arrivals, an increase of 3.7%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 376 billion, an increase of 55%. Da Nang served 402,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 37%; Total tourist receipts reached about VND 1,580 billion. Quang Nam served 305,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 35%; Total tourist receipts reached about VND 1,580 billion. Kien Giang was estimated to serve 270,230 visitor arrivals, an increase of 26.4%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 928 billion; Room occupancy reached 66.3%. Binh Thuan was estimated to serve 205,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of 28%; Total tourist receipts reached about VND 340 billion, an increase of 10%. Ha Giang served more than 141,200 visitor arrivals, an increase of 64%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 350.1 billion. Thua Thien Hue served 102,000 visitor arrivals, an increase of more than 20%; Total tourist receipts reached VND 160 billion.

On the occasion of Lunar New Year 2024, major travel agencies such as Hanoitourist, Saigontourist, Vietravel, Viet Tourism, Benthanhtourist, Transviet… have built many new inbound and outbound tours with many attractive promotional programmes; actively develop new tourism products with multi-options, focusing on highlighting regional advantages, linking in development in the direction of “one route, many destinations”, diversifying services to increase revenue during Tet.

Notably, some localities with international seaports have organised to welcome cruise visitors during the Lunar New Year 2024, such as Quang Ninh welcoming the Zhao Shang Yi Dun ship with 600 Chinese passengers; Da Nang welcoming Zhao Shang Yi Dun and Dream Cruise ships with about 3,400 passengers; Ho Chi Minh City welcoming Europa, Seabourn Encore, Celebrity Cruises with thousands of foreign passengers… Positive signals from cruise tourism show a prosperous year of recovery for this important international tourist flow.

Airlines focus on improving service quality and adding more flights to serve the travel demands of tourists and residents during the Lunar New Year. Domestic airlines are estimated to provide about 5.5 million tickets across the domestic flight network, an increase of 4% over the same period in 2023 and an increase of 69% compared to normal days.