The hop-on hop-off bus in HCM City. The city is among the top destinations in Việt Nam that tourists from Australia want to visit. -- VNA/VNS Photo Mỹ Phương

HCM CITY – HCM City is among the top destinations in Việt Nam that tourists from Australia want to visit.

In a report from Agoda Vietnam, the company lists the top five searched destinations for Australians heading to Việt Nam from June to August, which include HCM City, Đà Nẵng, Hà Nội, Hội An and Nha Trang.

As flight connectivity is expanding between Australia and Việt Nam, digital travel platform Agoda has noted an increase in searches for travel between ​the two countries. This is in line with the ​official data recently announced by the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism and Tourism Australia, the company said.

When looking at searches, Agoda's insights indicate a 26 per cent year-over-year increase in searches for Vietnamese destinations by Australians eager to escape the southern hemisphere's winter for Việt Nam's tropical climate, the company added.

“It’s great to be welcoming tourists from Australia to experience all that Việt Nam has to offer,” said Lâm Vũ, country director of Agoda Vietnam. "Our nation provides a warm, welcoming experience for culture travelers looking to enjoy our cuisine, landscapes, and vibrant cities.”

“Aside from the two major destinations, Đà Nẵng, Hội An, and Nha Trang have also proved popular among Australian travelers seeking off-season beach time in addition to exploring cultural landmarks and urban centers,” he continued.

Going the other way, Agoda's data indicates a 36 per cent​ year-over-year​ increase in ​​searches for accommodations by Vietnamese travelers to Australia.

Vietnamese travelers are searching for hotels in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

“This is an exciting ​development for Vietnamese travel,” said Lâm. “It’s wonderful to see my countrymen exploring new cultures and experiences all over Australia.”

His Australian counterpart, Agoda country director Zsuzsanna Janos, added, “Australia offers a variety of experiences for Vietnamese travelers. Some might come to visit family and friends - there is a large Vietnamese diaspora in Australia including almost 30,000 Vietnamese students here - while others will look to explore our unique wildlife and multicultural cities. There are ample opportunities to enjoy and enrich their visit, no matter which city or region in Australia they visit.”

“This increase in two-way travel interest reflects the growing appeal and mutual fascination between our nations, promising unforgettable experiences for all who journey between Australia and Việt Nam,” she concluded.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Australia is among the top 10 biggest markets of the Vietnamese tourism sector.

In 2023, the volume of visitors from Australia to Việt Nam ranked ninth and it jumped to sixth in the two first months of this year.

In the first six months of 2024, the number of visitors from Australia jumped by 119 per cent over the same time in 2019. – VNS