Vietnam has welcomed around 172,000 foreign visitors in May, representing a 70.6% increase over April and 12.8 times higher than the same month last year according to figures released by the General Statistics Office on Monday.
The number of visitors for the first five months of 2022 has also climbed 4.5 times higher year-on-year to around 365,000 – although this remains 95% lower than during the same period in 2019.
The improved numbers come after Vietnam dropped health declaration requirements from 27 April in a bid to reignite its tourism industry, then from 15 May removed a requirement for international arrivals to provide a negative COVID-19 test acquired prior to departure.
The statistics show the United States and South Korea as the two main source markets, while more than 80% visitors arrived by air – up 6.3 times on the same period in 2021.
Vietnam is hoping to reach five million tourist arrivals this year, around 30% of pre-pandemic levels.