Many travel companies have rolled up their sleeves and floated plans to welcome back Chinese tour groups after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that the Chinese government had added Vietnam to the northern neighbor’s pilot program for resuming outbound group tours, starting from March 15.

In February, Vietnam received nearly 933,000 international visitors, the highest ever since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Among them were 55,000 Chinese travelers, though Vietnam was yet to be put on a list of countries and territories where Chinese tour operators are allowed to organize tours until last month.

It’s high time to entice Chinese tourists back

Since January 8, China has reopened its borders, allowing its people to take tours to 20 countries, including 11 Asia-Pacific nations, except for Vietnam. This disappointed many Vietnamese travel companies.

However, legions of merchants, businesspeople and self-planning travelers have been heading for Vietnam.  

Deputy head of a local airline said that since February, several charter flights between Vietnam and China have operated to transport groups of businessmen.

Chinese visitors favor beaches and white sand, so their demand for tours to the sea is fairly high.

Meanwhile, many tourist destinations in Vietnam which meet their travel demand get very busy on the horizon.

Although Vietnam has fully reopened its doors to foreign holidaymakers over the last year, many travel companies still rely on only a few tourist source markets such as China, Japan and Russia.

Many tour operators have set a high target this year based on China’s resumption of outbound travel and India’s surging travel demand. 

Tu Quy Thanh, general director of Lien Bang Travelink, which specializes in serving tourists in Chinese-speaking source markets, said that on Thursday, when the information was confirmed by the two countries’ authorities, many travel firms were pleased despite some procedures for visa issuance and entry among others.

“[China’s] reopening in March is also a perfect time for Vietnam’s tourism industry. Group tours start booming from the summer, giving air carriers and tour conductors two months to gear up to welcome back tour groups,” said Thanh.

Lai Minh Duy, vice chairman of the Ho Chi Minh Tourism Association, said that Chinese tourist arrivals in the south region of Vietnam are mainly air passengers, who are targeted by travel firms in the south.

Since the international tourism segment bounced back, tour operators have been investing much in tourism products to satisfy visitors so that they can stay longer in the city.

“We still regard the city as a tourism gateway for visitors, including Chinese travelers, before they start the next trip to other provinces and cities. As such, the city will focus on attracting those who are Chinese entrepreneurs,” Duy said.

March starts seeing tourism boost

Dao Trong Tung, chairman of the Travel Businesses Association for Chinese Visitors in Khanh Hoa Province, said that Khanh Hoa has much experience in receiving Chinese travelers, so the south-central province will not find it hard to welcome back these tourists.

The province is home to some 1,150 lodging facilities with more than 55,000 rooms, and numerous four- or five-star hotels and resorts, making it ready to serve as many Chinese tourists as the pre-pandemic figure in 2019.

“Only few commercial flights depart from China to Khanh Hoa Province, while the majority of incoming flights are charter ones.

“However, many tour conductors receiving charter flights in China are striving to popularize Khanh Hoa’s tourism among Chinese tourists,” Tung said, suggesting that Khanh Hoa should invest in catering services, entertainment products and tourist attractions.

Tour operators and hotels are always in the mood to welcome tourists, including Chinese visitors, said Vo Quang Hoang, chairman of the Khanh Hoa Hotel Association.

Over the past few months, many hotels have proactively repaired and refurbished rooms, and registered for hotel star rating.

“If the number of international tourists is stable in a month, Khanh Hoa’s travel firms will be back on track,” Hoang said.

A representative of Da Nang Vacation Company, which specializes in receiving Chinese visitors, said that March 15 will be a milestone to welcome back Chinese groups, but it will take up to three months to see the tourism sector heat up.

“Vietnam should also remove obstacles over visa issuance to facilitate Chinese travelers’ entry.”

Do Thi Van Anh, director of Khang Thai Vietnam Travel, unveiled that the firm had worked with its Chinese partners to receive some flights departing from China on March 26 and in early April, with unchanged travel itineraries at reasonable prices.

She also suggested travel firms should be well-prepared for the quality of tourism services to welcome back Chinese visitors.

For instance, advertisements on tourism should be read in both Vietnamese and Chinese, while tour guides who are good at Chinese are needed.

Chinese travelers account for 70% of Khanh Hoa’s international arrivals

Statistics from the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism indicated that in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, Khanh Hoa Province welcomed over 2.5 million Chinese tourists, making up more than 70 percent of the province’s total international tourist arrivals.

Chinese tourists go on an island tour in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. Photo: Thuc Nghi / Tuoi Tre

After a long break due to the pandemic, in early 2023, the province received some charter flights from China, with a few visitors on board.

That China has added Vietnam to the second phase of the former’s pilot program for resuming outbound group tours will be a driver for Khanh Hoa’s potential tourism.

Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, said that the department was prepared for welcoming back Chinese tourists. The province is set to launch various tourism promotion programs to attract Chinese travelers this year.

In addition, the province will attach much importance to other source markets to reduce heavy reliance on a single market.

Speaking of passenger coaches with over 29 seats that are tagged as travel vehicles and are allowed to enter the center of the city, Thanh said that the provincial department will offer two training courses for drivers and workers for these vehicles and inland waterway transport means, starting from March 13-18.

Besides, training courses for travel staff will be opened.

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