Vietnam continues to be a preferred travel destination for Koreans, the team’s analysis stressed, affirming that the data showed a significant rise in accommodation spending by the RoK's tourists in the first half of 2024, reinforcing Vietnam's appeal for resort vacations.

In the latest analysis, Visa Consulting and Analytics team informed that spending on dining, the top category in the first half of 2024, accounted for 17% of total expenditure, highlighting Vietnam's renown for culinary tourism.

Visa has enhanced Vietnam's booming culinary scene by offering seamless digital payments through its partnership with the Michelin Guide in the past two years, providing diners and restaurant owners with top-notch dining experiences.

Additionally, there was a marked increase in contactless payment usage in Vietnam’s popular travel destinations, from 15% to 33%.

According to Visa’s Green Shoots Radar Survey, travel among Koreans has revived over the past year, with 37% travelling for leisure or work, up from 23% the previous year.

The survey ranks Vietnam as the second most visited destination at about 16% by Korean travelers, trailing only Japan, which is 54%, and tied with Australia at 16%.

According to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the RoK was the largest source market of tourists in the first three months of 2024, with more than 1.2 million arrivals, a year-on-year increase of 10%.

Notably, Vietnam ranked first among the most favourable foreign destinations for Korean visitors during the summer holiday season of 2024, forming 13.7% of inbound tourists.

Da Nang, HCM City and Hanoi remained at the top of the spending list, with approximately 25%, 15%, and 10% of total expenditure, respectively. Emerging hotspots like Nha Trang, Da Lat and Phu Quoc saw substantial spending growth, up by approximately 90%, 150%, and 160%, respectively.

Visa's analysis underscores the enduring allure of Vietnam for Korean travelers, with a marked shift towards accommodation spending. The rise of cities like Nha Trang, Da Lat, and Phu Quoc, coupled with the growing trend of contactless payments, signifies a promising future for Vietnam’s travel and tourism industry.

Vietnam's tourism sector welcomed over 8.8 million international visitors in the first half of 2024, marking a nearly 60% increase compared to the same period the previous year.

For the full year, Vietnam aims to attract 17 to 18 million foreign visitors and 110 million domestic visitors, generating VND840 trillion (US$34.2 billion) in revenue, an 11% increase from 2019.

To attract high-spending, long-term tourists, Vietnam is enhancing its premium tourism sector by improving high-quality services and increasing the number of 4 and 5-star hotels, luxury shopping malls, recreational spots, and event venues.

An example of this strategy is Korea's Lotte Duty Free, whose expansion in Vietnam led to a 351% sales surge in 2023, with Korean tourists making up about 60% of the sales.