Japan remains important market for Vietnam's tourism

Vietnam is a popular tourist destination for Japanese holiday-makers as it attracts approximately 1 million arrivals from the Asian nation each year, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Fifty years after establishing diplomatic relations (September 21, 1973 - 2023), Vietnam and Japan have witnessed numerous accomplishments in across fields, including tourism cooperation.

Japan has always been one of the key markets for Vietnam's tourism industry in recent years.

During the 2015 - 2019 period, the number of Japanese tourists visiting Vietnam increased by 1.4 times to 952,000 in 2019, with an annual average growth rate of 9.1%. In 2022, Vietnam welcomed only 128,764 Japanese visitors, much lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the figure strongly rebounded in 2023.

Japan ranked fourth among the top 10 tourism markets of Vietnam in the last five months, with 204,000 visiting the Southeast Asian nation in the period.

Japanese tourists are interested in tours to experience local culture and explore UNESCO World Heritage, and resort-style vacations in Vietnam. Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, the Mekong Delta region, and Ho Chi Minh City are the most attractive for Japanese visitors. 

Vietnam has paid special attention to promoting the image of its country and people to Japanese people. A wide range of programmes to popularise tourism destinations of Vietnam and the country's cultural festivals have been organised in many cities of Japan. Vietnamese travel agencies have also participated in many international tourism fairs in Japan.

A Vietnam-Japan tourism cooperation promotion programme will be organised in Japan's Osaka on July 2 -6, aiming to strengthen connection and cooperation, contributing to tightening the relationship between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Japan has also become a favourite destination for Vietnamese travelers with its attractive and famous destinations. From Hanoi, HCM City and Da Nang, tourists can easily fly to major cities in Japan such as Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagoya, Osaka, and Kobe.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan welcomed about 500,000 Vietnamese visitors per year. In 2022, as many as 284,000 Vietnamese tourists traveled to Japan, accounting for 7.4% of the total international visitors to the Asian country. In April 2023, the number of Vietnamese tourists visiting Japan reached 55,200, down 0.2% year-on-year, but up 85.2% compared to 2022. It is forecast that Japan will continue to be a popular destination for Vietnamese travelers in the future.

The Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Vietnam launched a tourism promotion campaign in Vietnam in November 2022. As part of the campaign, the agency released video clips promoting Japanese tourism with the participation of Nhi Thang Family, including renowned Vietnamese singer Dong Nhi, businessman Ong Cao Thang and their daughter Winnie. The music products contribute to widely introducing Japanese tourism attractions to Vietnamese people./.

VNA