Popular central Vietnam beach reports surge in Chinese tourists

Tourists on Mui Ne Beach in Binh Thuan Province. Photo: Diep Duc Minh

The number of Chinese visiting Mui Ne in Binh Thuan Province has increased sharply, and they now outnumber Russians who used to be the main foreign tourists in the area.

Binh Thuan has attracted more than 2.3 million so far this year, a 7.4 percent increase over last year, including 258,200 foreigners.

According to an official report from province authorities this week, Chinese tourists accounted for 20 percent followed by Russians at 16.5 percent.

Other visitors came from South Korea, the UK, the US, France, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and others.

Revenues from tourism topped VND4.2 trillion (US$193 million), an 18.5 percent increase.

Tran Van Binh, deputy chairman of the Binh Thuan Tourism Association, said Chinese tourists stay in all categories of hotels, from unranked to five-star.

“They also visit Mui Ne during weekdays instead of only on weekends like most local tourists. That is good for the province’s tourism.”

But many Chinese came to the province for sightseeing rather than relaxing on the beach, he said.

“Many of them visited Mui Ne for the first time and it is important to make them return.”

The Binh Thuan Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced plans to organize many tourism activities in the second half of this year when it also celebrates the 20th anniversary of Binh Thuan Tourism Day.

The province is also applying for recognition of Ham Tien – Mui Ne as one of Vietnam’s key tourist destinations.

Vietnam welcomed more than 593,500 international visitors in July, a 12 percent increase over June.

But the number of international visitors so far this year has reduced to 4.4 million, a 9.4 percent drop from last year.

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