Vietnam, known for its beaches, rivers, Buddhist pagodas and cities bursting with life, is home to one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature: Ha Long Bay. The country is chosen by millions of tourists who enjoy nature and its benefits.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority, said that after nearly two years of recovery measures, the tourism industry is now on an upward trend.
While many locations have seen strong tourism growth, Vietnam has won many prestigious international awards, and has one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature: Ha Long Bay.
Last year, 12.6 million international tourists chose Vietnam as a holiday destination, almost 3.5 times more than in 2022 and exceeding the initial target by 57%.
In 2023, the figure reached 12.6 million, exceeding the initial target by 57% and reaching the adjusted goal of 12-13 million. For its part, the number of domestic travelers stood at 108 million, 6% more than the set objective.
Tourism activities generated around VND678 trillion ($27.85 billion) in revenue, up 4.3% from the annual plan.
Under the most ideal conditions, if Vietnam manages to attract 18 million foreign arrivals, the tourism industry will arguably fully recover to the record level of 2019.
In this framework, by 2024, the country aims to receive between 17 and 18 million international travelers, 110 million domestic travelers and around 840 billion VND (Vietnam’s official currency) in tourist income.
With the achievements made in 2023 with tourist arrivals, 2024 is expected to be the time when Vietnam’s tourism industry gains speed to strengthen competitiveness against regional rivals, said Nguyen Trung Khanh.
February: Lunar new year
Owner of an ancient culture, Vietnam celebrated the lunar new year 2024 from February 9 to 14.
On the country’s official tourism site, they said “Happy Lunar New Year 2024! This year, the traditional Vietnamese Tet was celebrated from February 9 to February 14, heralding the Year of the Dragon. A year of positivity, opportunities to travel and explore Vietnam to the fullest. We wish you nothing but wealth and health to enjoy, relax and have fun in Vietnam. Happy New Year!”
Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature since 2011, is located in the northeast of Vietnam, known for its emerald waters and thousands of elevated limestone islands with tropical jungles on their summits.
On junk tours and kayak expeditions, visitors navigate islands named after their shape (for example Stone Dog and Teapot Islets).
The region is famous for its diving, climbing and hiking options, especially in the mountainous Cát Ba Nature Park.