The Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, famous for its four-faced Buddha, attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world. VNS Photo Bồ Xuân Hiệp

HCM CITY — Thailand continues to be a favoured choice among Vietnamese travellers, observing an uptick in the number of visitors from Việt Nam, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

“Thailand has witnessed a significant influx of Vietnamese visitors, with nearly 440,000 arrivals recorded from January 1 to June 23," said a spokesperson from TAT.

The number is expected to reach 500,000 by the end of June, which is nearly 50 per cent of the number in the entire 2019, the year before COVID began, said the spokesperson.

HCM City-based Vietravel said it hoped to take more than 14,000 Vietnamese visitors to Thailand this summer, or 66 per cent of the 2019 number. 

Phạm Văn Bảy, deputy director of the Vietravel office in Hà Nội, said Thailand remained a popular destination among Vietnamese due to its affordability and “hospitality.”

With the demand to visit Thailand surging, his company planned to diversify its tour offerings, he said.

This summer Vietravel Hà Nội planned to launch Thai tours with direct flights to Phuket, Koh Phi Phi Island and Phang Nga Bay with accommodation at high-class resorts, he said.

Trần Thị Bảo Thu, communication director of Vietluxtour, said Thailand had one of the highest rates of returning visitors, with many people choosing to visit every three to five years.

Phạm Quý Huy, director of KiwiTravel firm, told Việt Nam News it was relatively easy for Vietnamese tourists to travel independently to Thailand due to its 'convenience' and 'simplicity' compared to other popular destinations such as the US, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Europe.

"Communication, shopping and commuting in Thailand are relatively straightforward, with some Thais even speaking Vietnamese," he said. 

“The increasing number of Vietnamese independent travellers to Thailand can be attributed to the convenience of language, direct flights, and affordability.”

According to TAT, the majority of Thailand’s foreign tourists come from Asian nations including Việt Nam, Malaysia, China, and India, with Việt Nam being one of the top six markets.

Despite the impact of the pandemic, Thailand received 470,000 tourists from Việt Nam last year, or almost half the pre-pandemic figure.

Vietnamese tourists can fly directly from major cities such as HCM City, Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, Đà Lạt, Phú Quốc, and Nha Trang to Thai hotspots such as Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket. — VNS