Vietnam welcomed an estimated 1.23 million international visitors in November, with a surge in tourist arrivals from several European nations thanks to the Southeast Asian nation’s visa waiver program.

The November figure grew 11 percent month on month, marking the highest number of international tourist arrivals in Vietnam in a month since the start of 2023.

November also saw the number of travelers from European nations, which are entitled to Vietnam’s visa exemption, soar 58.5 percent month on month.

In particular, British tourist arrivals improved 38.6 percent, while the number of travelers to Vietnam from France recorded the sharpest increase at 72.5 percent.

Vietnam enjoyed a 55.1-percent month-on-month hike in tourist arrivals from Italy in November.

The numbers of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation from Germany and Russia rose 36.1 percent and 41.8 percent, respectively.

Between January and November, over 11.2 million international holidaymakers traveled to Vietnam, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

South Korea remained Vietnam’s largest tourism source market during the 11-month period, sending 3.2 million tourists.

China came second with 1.5 million Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam over the past 11 months, followed by Taiwan, the United States, and Japan.

Vietnam’s tourism has been making great strides in the lead-up to the end of 2023.

Compared with the pre-pandemic period, the 11-month figure of international tourist arrivals in Vietnam remained modest.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has recently proposed revising up the targeted number of international tourist arrivals in 2023 to 12-13 million from eight million.

The country is expected to welcome at least 35 million international travelers in 2025, and 50 million in 2030.

Speaking at a national teleconference on sustainable tourism growth held in mid-November, several experts hinted at continuing to expand Vietnam’s visa-free program, issue flexible visa policies, and grant visa waivers to more countries.

Vietnam currently offers visa waivers to 25 countries, including nine ASEAN members, Chile, Panama, Kyrgyzstan, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Norway, Belarus, and seven EU members—Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland.

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