Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa welcomes back first visitors from China after three-year hiatus
Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa welcomes back first visitors from China after three-year hiatus
A flight from China with 214 passengers on board arrived in Khanh Hoa Province on Tuesday morning, making it the first to bring Chinese visitors to Vietnam after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The visitors arrived on flight VJ5317 operated by Vietnamese budget carrier Vietjet, which departed from Chengdu International Airport in China and landed at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa at 6:00 am.
Tourism authorities in Khanh Hoa gave flowers and red envelopes following the arrival of the tourists from China.
Cung Quynh Anh, deputy director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, stated that the occasion represented a significant turning point when the first flight from China landed in Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam after three years.
“Khanh Hoa is the first locality to take a pilot initiative to attract international tourists following the COVID-19 pandemic,” Anh said.
“Khanh Hoa tourism is always prepared to receive a significant number of foreign visitors in 2023, including Chinese tourists.
“During the Lunar New Year holiday, the tourism sector in Khanh Hoa has also prepared several cultural activities and attractions to welcome Chinese tourists.”
According to Anh, between January 22 and March 23, Vietjet will organize approximately 35 flights to bring Chinese passengers from the provinces of Anhui, Hunan, and Sichuan to Nha Trang City with a frequency of four to five services per week, with each trip carrying between 180 and 220 Chinese tourists.
La Tu Lam, a Chinese visitor, said that this was her first trip to Nha Trang, and she believed the atmosphere was terrific.
“I intend to explore the city and try Vietnamese food, particularly Tet specialties,” Lam said.
“I'll also take a lot of photos and share them on social media with my friends and family.”
Khanh Hoa's tourism industry aims to receive around four million tourists in 2023, including approximately 2.5 million domestic visitors and 1.5 million overseas visitors, with an estimated revenue of VND21 trillion (US$895.5 million).
