Top tourist destinations cash in on Tet travel rush

Ho Chi Minh City topped the country in terms of both arrivals and revenues during the country's biggest festival from Feb. 8 to 14.

It received 1.8 million people, 6% more than last year and earned revenues of VND6.55 trillion (US$267.3 million), according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

Hanoi was second in terms of revenues (VND2.35 trillion) and was followed by Da Nang City (VND1.58 trillion) and Kien Giang Province (VND930 billion), home to Phu Quoc Island.

In terms of visitor numbers, northern provinces such as Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh and Ha Giang and the north-central Thanh Hoa Province saw increases of 50-64%.

Hanoi, Da Nang and Khanh Hoa and Kien Giang provinces reported increases of 21-26%.

There were also large numbers of foreign tourists at many of the destinations.

Phu Quoc received 52,000 foreign visitors, nearly six times the number last year.

The northern province of Ninh Binh, home to UNESCO heritage site Trang An Landscape Complex, saw their number quadruple to 115,000.

Hanoi saw a 2.2-fold increase to 103,000, and Quang Nam, home to Hoi An, received 97,000, up 42%.

HCMC received 75,000, a 15.4% rise.

The tourism authority said the sharp rise in foreign visitor numbers was due to the flexible visa policies.

There were also 10.5 million domestic travelers, a 16.6% increase.