Chinese arrivals to Vietnam up nearly 68 pct in January

Among the one million person-times of foreign arrivals in Vietnam during the month, Chinese tourists accounted for about 25 percent.
Vietnam welcomed more than 1 million foreign visitors in the first month of 2017, a 23.6 percent increase, official data showed. Nearly 70 percent of the arrivals were from Asian countries. China continued to maintain its place as the biggest feeder market with a record high 247,621 visitors. The number of Chinese visitors was 2.7 times as many as those from Americas and the same as those from Europe and Oceania together, said GSO. In 2016, Vietnam welcomed over 10 million person-times international tourists while Chinese tourists accounted for nearly 2.7 million person-times, marking the record growth from the market.
Data by the GSO in the past five years shows that each year, the number of Chinese tourists to Vietnam accounted for 20-25 percent of total foreign arrivals, registering the biggest market.
Most Chinese tourists come in through northern border provinces, particularly Quang Ninh, home of the famous Ha Long Bay, arguably the country’s top sightseeing attraction. Quang Ninh has recently allowed Chinese travelers in groups to stay up to three days without a tourist visa.
Vietnam targets to welcome 11.5 million person-times of foreign tourists in 2017.