The Indian market is currently one of the major potential inbound markets for Vietnam. The country is increasingly popular with Indian tourists for many reasons.
Half a million Indian tourists expected to visit Vietnam in 2023
Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India in Ho Chi Minh City, said that in 2022, India ranked 9th out of 10 countries with the highest number of visitors to Vietnam with 109,000 arrivals (as of November 2022). He saw that the number of Indian tourists to Vietnam is increasing sharply thanks to direct flights between the two countries. He expects around 500,000 Indians to visit Vietnam this year.
In early March, the Embassy of India and the South Central Coast provinces held a conference to promote and cooperate in 6 main sectors, especially in tourism. It featured 300 delegates from the Embassy, Consulate General, 70 Indian businesses, leaders of ministries, universities and businesses in Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Ninh Thuan.
Why do Indian tourists love Vietnam?
Many travel bloggers in India recommend Vietnam as a budget-friendly destination for young people. The Deccan Herald newspaper said that Indian tourists who have frequented Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore or Malaysia are considering visiting Vietnam. Some experts even compare a trip to Vietnam at least 10% to 15% cheaper than other Southeast Asian countries.
Sowbhagya H., Operation Manager of Cruise and Travel in India, said that Vietnam is also popular with elderly and middle-aged guests. “Not only is it less expensive, but it is also known for its temples and historical sites. In the past four months, we have had lots of people between 40 and 55 going to Vietnam, they are especially interested in visiting the temples,” she said.
According to Deccan Herald, Vietnam is an undiscovered destination for Indian tourists. Its rich culture and beautiful scenery also attract them.
While China has not yet allowed group tours in Vietnam, the country needs to focus on other major markets. In addition to South Korea or the US, India is also considered a potential inbound market, but it is still quite complicated.
In the first two months of 2023, the number of international visitors to Vietnam is estimated at over 1.8 million. It is almost a quarter of this year’s target. In which, Korea remains the largest inbound market to Vietnam with more than 301 thousand arrivals.
