Which destinations do Vietnamese tourists like for summer 2023?

Vietnamese tourists love island destinations for domestic travel, prioritize choosing nearby destinations, convenient visa procedures for international travel, and family travel is still the main trend in the summer of 2023.

Da Nang is a domestic destination loved by Vietnamese tourists in the summer of 2023. (Photo: Booking.com)

According to Booking.com's Travel Forecast 2023, 74% of Vietnamese travelers say travel is always a worthwhile experience for them, and more than three-quarters of travelers (78%) believe summer is the best time to travel.

Based on a survey of search sessions between April 3 and April 16, 2023, with check-in dates between July 1 and August 31, 2023 on the Booking.com platform, the company determined that beautiful beaches are still the top choice of Vietnamese tourists this summer.

Danang continues to hold the leading position and is the most sought-after domestic destination by Vietnamese tourists for their 2023 summer trip. After Da Nang are the two famous beach destinations Nha Trang and Phu Quoc. With a coastline of more than 3,260km, beautiful beaches across Vietnam still retain their appeal to domestic tourists.

In addition to searching for beach tourism, Vietnamese tourists are also interested in big cities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and other famous cities such as Da Lat, Hoi An, Hue.

Top 10 domestic destinations most searched by Vietnamese tourists for summer 2023 (and ranking compared to the same period in 2022):

1. Da Nang (+1)

2. Nha Trang (+1)

3. Phu Quoc (-2)

4. Ho Chi Minh City (+2)

5. Da Lat (-1)

6. Hoi An (+1)

7. Hanoi (+4)

8. Ha Long (-1)

9. Hue (+3)

10. Vung Tau (-1)

With Covid-19 no longer a barrier, foreign destinations near Vietnam are reasonable choices for Vietnamese tourists. This is demonstrated by the results of a survey by Booking.com when 6 out of 10 international destinations most searched by Vietnamese tourists are located in Asia-Pacific.

Phu Quoc ranked 3rd in the top 10 destinations favored by Vietnamese tourists in the summer of 2023. (Photo: Booking.com)

These destinations all have short flight times and relatively easy visa policies for Vietnamese tourists.

With its convenient location, short flights, and low cost, Thailand's capital Bangkok remains the top favorite destination for Vietnamese tourists when traveling internationally this summer, followed by Singapore and Paris (France). Since reopening, Tokyo (Japan) and Seoul (South Korea) have also received great attention from Vietnamese tourists and are also 2 of the 5 most searched cities this summer.

Top 10 international destinations most searched by Vietnamese tourists for summer 2023 (and ranking compared to the same period in 2022):

1. Bangkok (Thailand) (+8)

2. Singapore (Singapore) (-4)

3. Paris (France) (+3)

4. Tokyo (Japan) (+19)

5. Seoul (South Korea) (+10)

6. Sydney (Australia) (+6)

7. London (UK) (-6)

8. Rome (Italy) (+9)

9. New York (USA) (+54)

10. Taipei (Taiwan, China) (+88)

Family Travel: The Main Summer Travel Trend

Commenting on this year's summer travel trends, Saigontourist travel company said that by early May, when the 2022-2023 school year was about to end, the number of customers buying new tours had increased dramatically and clearly demonstrated the travel trend: Up to 85% of customers bought tours for their families and prioritized choosing tours from 5 to 9 days. More than 30% of customers buying family tours traveled in groups of 3 generations (grandparents, children, grandchildren).

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Luu, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Travel, summer tours are not only for simple tourism purposes, but also for connecting family members, putting aside the hustle and bustle of life and the busyness of studying so that all members can experience, relax, and foster family affection.

A representative of Saigontourist said that the trend of long-term family travel has spread to the international tourist market to Vietnam. Accordingly, more than 2,000 pure tourists coming to Vietnam by flight from the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, the Philippines... during the summer also chose cross-Vietnam itineraries of 8-12 days to learn about history, culture and experience the characteristics of cuisine, life and people in all 3 regions of the country.

In addition to family tours, the MICE tourism sector abroad has also witnessed a shift in destinations. If in the summer of 2022, most customers chose Southeast Asian countries due to many flight restrictions after the pandemic, now further destinations such as Northeast Asia (Korea, Japan, etc.), Europe, the US, and Australia are prioritized.

Customers also pay more attention to tour quality, the ability to manage large groups of guests from several hundred to thousands of guests, the professionalism of additional services such as gala dinners, team-building for employees, customers, partners... This company expects that this summer tourist season, the MICE tourism segment will grow by 30% compared to 2022.

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