Foreign visitors visit Hội An Ancient Town in Quảng Nam Province. Many Vietnamese people expected international visitors to be allowed into Việt Nam only after two years. — Photo courtesy Agoda

HCM CITY — Many Vietnamese expect global travel to resume in the next six months though with some restrictions, a study by Agoda has found.

With Việt Nam’s prolonged lockdowns now in the rearview mirror for both Hà Nội and HCM City, the nation’s attention can turn to when it is able to re-open its borders to international travellers once again, according to the Welcome Back Travel survey.

It provides some fascinating insights into how people in Việt Nam expect this to unfold with at least 60 per cent expecting travel to resume in the next six months.

Respondents aged 45-54 were most optimistic about restriction-free travel within Asia (52 per cent) compared to only 38 per cent among people aged 25-34.

Interestingly, when asked about global restriction-free travel, the over 55-age group was most optimistic (54 per cent), followed by 45-54-year-olds (45 per cent).

Though one respondent in 10 expected international visitors to be allowed into Việt Nam only after two years, the Government has announced it would begin opening certain destinations to international visitors in November beginning with Phú Quốc.

But only 27 per cent believed full border reopening is likely by the end of this year.

Some 20 per cent expected the opening to happen around June 2022, while 19 per cent said it would be two or three months before that.  

A full 20 per cent did not expect inbound travel to resume fully until 80 per cent of Vietnamese are vaccinated.

Around 11 per cent expected international visitors to be allowed to travel to Viet Nam only after two years.

Hà Nội respondents were the most conservative city with a quarter of respondents saying international visitation is seven to 11 months away.

HCM City split the difference with 20 per cent each saying four to six months and seven to 11 months.  VNS