Vietnam had attracted more and more international tourists before the pandemic. In 2019, the country saw a total of 18 million foreign visitors. In this article, we will take a look at the top international markets of Vietnam in 2019 and the changes that have taken place in 2022.
International markets to Vietnam in 2019 and 2022
In 2019, the top international market of Vietnam was China, with over 5.8 million visitors, accounting for 32.1% of the total international tourist arrivals. South Korea was the second largest market, with more than 4.2 million visitors, or 23.8% of the total. Japan was in third place, with around 952,000 visitors, or 5.3% of the total. Taiwan and the United States were also among the top international markets of Vietnam in 2019, with 926,800 and 746,200 visitors, respectively.
In 2022, the total number of international tourist arrivals in Vietnam decreased to 3.4 million. The top 10 international markets of Vietnam underwent some changes. The top market in 2022 was South Korea, with 769 thousand visitors, or 22.3% of the total. The US was in second place, with 215 thousand visitors, or 6.3% of the total. Thailand was in third place, with 162 thousand visitors, or 4.7% of the total.
Malaysia, Japan, and Singapore were also among the top international markets of Vietnam in 2022, with 135 thousand, 128.8 thousand, and 128.4 thousand visitors, respectively. Australia, Taiwan, and China were also in the top 10, with 99 thousand, 89.5 thousand, and 71.9 thousand visitors, respectively. The UK was in 10th place, with 67 thousand visitors, or 1.9% of the total, followed by Germany, with 60 thousand visitors, or 1.7%.
A certain charm
It is clear that COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the tourism industry in Vietnam and around the world. This is reflected in the changes that took place in the top international markets of Vietnam in 2022. Despite this, the country has been able to maintain its popularity among international travelers, especially from the top international markets. However, the number of visitors from some of the top markets, such as China, has decreased significantly. This is due to China’s travel restrictions and border closures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus. After opening borders, Chinese outbound tourism is being expected to rebound.
Recently, China has announced a list of 20 countries that it allows to organize group tours. Many people are surprised and disappointed that Vietnam is not included. Because Vietnam is a neighboring country and was also a favorite destination for Chinese tourists before the pandemic. It will be a big challenge for Vietnam to reach the target of 8 million foreign visitors. Currently, Vietnam is trying to negotiate with China about this.
Nevertheless, Vietnam remains a popular destination for international tourists, with millions of visits each year. In 2019, China was the top international market of Vietnam, followed by South Korea and Japan. In 2022, the top international markets of Vietnam underwent some changes, with South Korea becoming the largest market, followed by the United States and Thailand. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam is likely to continue to grow in popularity in the coming years.
