Since the middle of last year, the number of Koreans traveling abroad has been increasing steadily after long days of restrictions due to COVID-19 prevention measures. And one of the favorite destinations of Korean tourists recently is Vietnam. So why do Korean tourists choose Vietnam as their favorite destination for their trip? [caption id="attachment_604036" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
Ba Na Hills is one of the attractive destinations for Korean tourists. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNS[/caption]
The number of tourists from Korea has increased dramatically. The latest statistics from the National Tourism Administration show that in the first 11 months of 2023, Vietnam welcomed more than 11.2 million international visitors, 3.8 times higher than the same period last year and equal to 68.9% compared to the same period in 2019 - the year before the COVID-19 pandemic, of which the number of visitors from Korea reached 3.2 million, accounting for 28.5% of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam. Previously, with nearly 770,000 visitors to Vietnam in 2022, Korea also ranked first among Vietnam's key tourism markets, accounting for nearly 21.04% of the total 3.66 million international visitors to our country. On the Korean side, according to statistics from the country's immigration agency, in the first 9 months of 2023, Koreans traveling abroad increased dramatically, and Vietnam ranked 2nd among the favorite tourist destinations of this country's tourists. Specifically, in the reporting period, nearly 16.23 million Koreans traveled abroad by air, an increase of 382.7% over the same period last year. In the top 5 favorite destinations of Koreans, Japan is the country most visited by Korean tourists because of its close geographical location and devaluation of the currency. Vietnam ranked 2nd when welcoming nearly 2.58 million tourists from the "land of Kimchi", an increase of 389.7% over the same period in 2022 and more than 2.36 times higher than the destinations ranked 2nd and 3rd, Thailand (nearly 1.09 million people), Philippines (more than 1.086 million people). In particular, Da Nang City is the most attractive destination for Korean tourists.
Advantages of Vietnam According to international travel experts, one of the important reasons why Vietnam has emerged as a top destination for Korean tourists is because this Southeast Asian country has many beautiful natural landscapes, many delicious dishes, affordable travel costs (food, accommodation and shopping) and especially very friendly people. In addition, because the flight time between Korea and Vietnam is quite short (only about 5-6 hours), Vietnam is a suitable destination for short trips. On the other hand, international travel experts also assess that Vietnam's unilateral visa exemption for international tourists, including tourists from Korea, has also contributed significantly to the increase in the number of tourists from the "Land of Kim Chi". Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing and Communications Director of Vietluxtour Travel Company, affirmed that the new visa policy is one of the driving forces contributing to the development of the international tourist market, increasing the competitiveness of Vietnam's destinations. [caption id="attachment_604126" align="alignnone" width="1024"]
Vietnam promotes tourism abroad. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNS[/caption] Moreover, tourism promotion and marketing campaigns by Vietnamese travel agencies and airlines have also contributed to making more and more Koreans know about Vietnam. Deputy General Director of Vietravel Tourism Company Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang shared that Vietnam has promoted tourism promotion and marketing to Korean customers through many communication campaigns. In addition, reality TV shows that attract many viewers in Korea have mentioned Vietnam many times. This is a factor that encourages Koreans to travel to Vietnam. In addition, the explosion of economic and cultural exchange activities between the people of the two countries has not only contributed to enhancing mutual understanding between the people of the two countries, but also helped attract Korean tourists to Vietnam. Ms. Vu Bich Hue, Head of Communications Department of Flamingo Redtours Tourism Company, said: "There are more and more Korean businessmen and experts investing and working in Vietnam. They indirectly become ambassadors promoting our country's tourism industry"./.
Mai Huong 
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