Since the beginning of this year, nearly three million foreign visitors have arrived in Vietnam, up 17.5 percent compared to the same period last year.     

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), 1,750,000 people came to the country as tourists, 510,000 for work, 520,000 to visit relatives and 166,000 for other purposes.

However, only 460,000 foreigners came to Vietnam in May, down 25.8 percent from April and 4.4 percent from a year ago.

The majority of visitors came from Russia, the Republic of Korea, Thailand and Malaysia, while fewer tourists came from Australia and Cambodia. 

Da Nang City welcomes 1 million visitors in first five months

Da Nang City welcomed one million visitors in the first five months of the year, an increase of 11 per cent over the same period last year, said Nguyen Phuc Linh, deputy director of the Da Nang City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

During the first five months of 2012, about 313,000 international tourists visited Da Nang City, an increase of 19 per cent compared to the same period in 2011.

About 40,000 tourists visited Da Nang during the Da Nang International Fireworks Competition.

The city’s tourism sector reported a turnover of about VND2,330 billion, an increase of 37 per cent against the same period last year.

Da Nang City now aims to receive three million domestic and one million international visitors by 2015.

Every year, more tourists are coming to the annual Da Nang International Fireworks Competition, which has become an important event in the city.

Located in central Vietnam, Da Nang is the third largest centrally-run city besides Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Source: VNN