The first group of Chinese tourists arrive in Khanh Hoa Province in January 2023
The move came after Vietnam wasn't included in the list of 20 countries that China allowed its travel agencies to organise outbound tours to, starting February 6.
The selected countries include seven in Southeast Asia - Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.Although China reopened their border from January 8, they have not resumed issuing tourist visas. Vietnamese tour operators said that Chinese citizens visiting Vietnam from January 8 until now are mainly those arriving on business visas.
"Tourism used to be a key sector in our co-operation," the ministry wrote in their diplomatic notes. "Before the Covid-19 pandemic occurred, Chinese tourists used to make up the largest number of foreign visitors to Vietnam, and Vietnam was in the top five countries that sent the biggest number of tourists to China. This is a win-win co-operation."
In 2019, the year before the onset of the pandemic, Vietnam received 5.80 million Chinese visitors, making up nearly a third of all foreign arrivals to the country.