Where are Vietnam’s international visitors headed?
Xem Tiếng Việt 
With the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism’s May figures showing a 27.6% year on year increase in visitor arrivals for the first five months of 2018,[1] global online booking platform Agoda today published its own findings examining where in Vietnam these visitors from the top five international origins head on arrival.
All inbound markets
Since 2016, Ho Chi Minh City has remained the ‘most booked’ destination for travelers booking with Agoda. The southern metropolis is a magnet for business and leisure travelers, often used as a ‘jumping off point’ for tourists to begin their Vietnam adventure. 2018 saw Danang the nation’s “most liveable city”, nudging out the nation’s capital, Hanoi, which had held second place in both of the previous years. Neighboring Hoi An then leads the charge as the country’s best recognized tourist hotspots, with Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Dalat, Phu Quoc Island, Hue and Halong Bay all holding places in the top 10.
China
China is Vietnam’s number one origin market for travelers, with Ho Chi Minh City the top Vietnamese destination for Agoda’s China visitors in 2017 and YTD 2018, claiming the top spot previously held by Nha Trang. This augurs well for the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Board’s recently announced goal to nearly triple the number of Chinese visitors it receives annually to 1.5 million by 2020.
Vietnam’s beaches are a clear drawcard for visitors from its northern neighbor with the various direct and charter services to Nha Trang ensuring the popularity of the bayside city. Surprisingly, the coastal town Phan Thiet has displaced both Danang and Hanoi for bookings from China in 2018 to date, which are placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Top Vietnam Destinations for Chinese Visitors
|
Rank |
2016 | 2017 |
2018 YTD |
|
1 |
Nha Trang | Ho Chi Minh City |
Ho Chi Minh City |
|
2 |
Ho Chi Minh City | Nha Trang |
Nha Trang |
| 3 | Hanoi | Hanoi |
Phan Thiet |
|
4 |
Da Nang |
Phan Thiet |
Da Nang |
| 5 | Phan Thiet | Da Nang |
Hanoi |
South Korea
Korean visitors have taken full advantage of better connectivity to the central towns of Danang and Hoi An, which Agoda reports as their favorite Vietnamese destinations. Indeed Danang took pole-position on each of the three years studied, with its stunning beaches, neighboring cultural mecca in Hoi An and five golf courses in the area. Korean TV shows, including “Running Man”, “Battle Trip”, “Barefoot Friends” and “Carefree Travelers”[2], have played a role as well, all filmed in picturesque Vietnam locations. Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi occupied third and fourth spots, likely led by close trade ties and huge FDI from South Korea, who ushered US$50.9 billion into projects in the nation in 2017 alone, with major investments in and around both major cities.
Top Vietnam Destinations for South Korean Visitors
|
Rank |
2016 | 2017 |
2018 YTD |
|
1 |
Da Nang | Da Nang |
Da Nang |
|
2 |
Ho Chi Minh City | Hoi An |
Hoi An |
|
3 |
Hoi An | Hanoi |
Ho Chi Minh City |
|
4 |
Hanoi | Ho Chi Minh City |
Hanoi |
|
5 |
Nha Trang | Nha Trang |
Nha Trang |
Japan
Travelers from Japan heading to Vietnam this year once again reflect the trends of 2016 and 2017, with Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An, and Hue the top five booked destinations.
Top Vietnam Destinations for Japanese Visitors
| Rank | 2016 | 2017 |
2018 YTD |
| 1 | Ho Chi Minh City | Ho Chi Minh City |
Ho Chi Minh City |
| 2 | Hanoi | Hanoi |
Hanoi |
| 3 | Da Nang | Da Nang |
Da Nang |
| 4 | Hoi An | Hoi An |
Hoi An |
|
5 |
Hue | Hue |
Hue |
United States
Americans headed to Vietnam for the past three years flocked to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An and Nha Trang.
Top Vietnam Destinations for American Visitors
|
Rank |
2016 | 2017 | 2018 YTD |
|
1 |
Ho Chi Minh City | Ho Chi Minh City |
Ho Chi Minh City |
| 2 | Hanoi | Hanoi |
Hanoi |
| 3 | Da Nang | Da Nang |
Da Nang |
|
4 |
Hoi An | Hoi An | Hoi An |
| 5 | Nha Trang | Nha Trang |
Nha Trang |
Russia
Liberal visa policies and the appeal of Vietnam’s warm climate and long coastline, sees Russian visitors heading to the gorgeous beaches of Nha Trang, Phu Quoc and Phan Thiet, while Ho Chi Minh City and and Hanoi have rounded out the top cities for Russians to visit.
Top Vietnam Destinations for Russian Visitors
|
Ranking |
2016 | 2017 | 2018 YTD |
| 1 | Nha Trang | Phu Quoc Island |
Nha Trang |
|
2 |
Ho Chi Minh City | Nha Trang | Phu Quoc Island |
| 3 | Phu Quoc Island | Ho Chi Minh City |
Ho Chi Minh City |
|
4 |
Phan Thiet | Phan Thiet | Phan Thiet |
| 5 | Hanoi | Hanoi |
Hanoi |
[1] http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/english/index.php/items/12845
[2] http://kenh14.vn/viet-nam-la-diem-den-ly-tuong-cua-show-thuc-te-han-quoc-20170306124716036.chn
