Indian tourists keen on Vietnam trip as direct routes increase

By Hoang Phong June 23, 2022 | 11:28 pm PT

An Indian billionaire couple hold a wedding ceremony at J.W.Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, 2019. Photo courtesy of Vietnamese Embassy in India

Google data has revealed Indian tourists are increasingly keen on visiting Vietnam as carriers have launched more direct flights.

The search volume for direct flights to Vietnam from India in early April grew by 400 percent year-on-year and over 3,000 percent in late May, according to data from Google's Destination Insights.

The frequency of searches for accommodation from Indian tourists by mid-June tripled compared to early April.

Vietnamese carriers are racing to launch more direct flights connecting tourist hotspots with Indian cities, with India being one of Vietnam's growing tourism markets before the pandemic.

Vietjet Air earlier this month announced direct flights from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City to India's commercial hub, Mumbai.

Vietnam Airlines last week launched direct services between Hanoi, HCMC and New Delhi, becoming the second Vietnamese carrier to fly to India.

The most searched tourist destinations by Indian tourists are Hanoi, HCMC, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, Da Nang and Hoi An.

The number of Indian visitors to Vietnam rose from 85,000 in 2016 to 169,000 in 2019.

Vietnam allowed free-quarantine entry since March 15 and also ditched Covid testing requirements.