Saigon experienced a 22.8% increase in foreign tourists over the last year.
In 2017, 6.38 million foreigners arrived in the metropolis — a sign Vietnam’s tourism efforts are paying off. The international visitors spent an average of US$145 (VND3.35 million) a day which is equal to averages in Thailand in 2016, according to a recently conducted survey. Vietnam is the No. 20 destination in Southeast Asia for overall foreign expenditures.
Foreign travelers spend an average of 5.21 days in the city, with 40% staying for up to eight days. In contrast, domestic tourists only stay for an average of 3.6 days and spend US$69.4 (VND1.6 million).
Some credit for the increased tourist attention has been given to the transformation of Bui Vien into a walking street and the opening of the waterbus.
Vietnam as a whole and Saigon in particular have recently received numerous positive mentions in travel-related press. For example, an online survey from booking.com placed it as the sixth best place to experience local cuisine, Airbnb named it one of the friendliest destinations for solo travelers, Rough Guides listed Saigon as a must-see location for nightlife and TripAdvisor listed Vietnam as a top 10 country to explore.
The country has been investing heavily in its tourism sector. It has ambitious aims to bring in US$35 billion in revenue by 2025. An important part of the long-term success of the industry will involve attracting repeat visitors, something that has been a challenge so far. However, tourism officials are hoping that relaxed Visa rules and clean-up efforts will help further tourism.
[Photo by Quynh Tran via VnExpress]
