Vietnam is a 'unique' destination attracting Indian tourists

India's Economic Times newspaper said that Vietnam is a unique destination that is attracting the attention of Indians.

Article on economictimes. Screenshot

Some Indian travel companies have seen a 500% increase in Vietnam tour bookings this year compared to 2019, as travel companies and carriers are looking to offer more options and boost capacity.

Statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) show that there were 392,000 Indian tourists coming to Vietnam in 2023, an increase of more than 3 times compared to 2019.

Rajeev Kale, an official of Thomas Cook Group (India branch), said that the 500% increase in tourists from India to Vietnam could be attributed to improved flight connectivity, smooth travel through e-visas and the impact of social media. “When compared to other destinations in Southeast Asia, Vietnam also offers great value propositions at really attractive prices. It is worth noting that Vietnam attracts a variety of tourist groups including families, multi-generational and senior citizens, couples and groups of friends…” In addition, he added: “Recently, direct flights from Ahmedabad to Da Nang have been launched to meet the growing demand from this region and from now until 2025, we expect travel demand to continue to increase due to the increasing number of flights departing from this city.”

VietJet Air said that since 2019, it has continuously opened more routes and direct connections to meet the growing demand of passengers. Currently, the airline operates 68 weekly flights between the two countries, connecting key Indian cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kochi with major destinations in Vietnam such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.

Raj Rishi Singh, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Business Officer of MakeMyTrip, said that over the past year, searches for Vietnam have increased by 17%. According to him, the cost of living in Vietnam, combined with visa exemptions and the increasing number of direct flights from India, are driving the growth of Indian tourists to Vietnam.

Mr. SD Nandakumar, Chairman of SOTC Travel, stressed that Vietnam offers Indian tourists a treasure trove of culture, history, cuisine, scenic beauty and shopping options. “We look forward to partnering with VNAT to sustain and drive demand through our extensive network across India. Our aim is also to introduce untapped tourism destinations such as the Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, Sapa and Con Dao to discerning Indian consumers,” he said.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/viet-nam-la-diem-den-co-mot-khong-hai-thu-hut-du-khach-an-do-3328942.html