Hanoi is cheaper than Goa.

On December 20th, in an article titled "Hanoi/Bali is Cheaper Than Goa - About Indian Tourism " by Saurabh Sharma, authored by Viraj Mehta, a fund manager from India, explains the current trend among tourists to visit Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia instead of Goa, a coastal state in western India.

Goa, India, boasts many beautiful and pristine beaches. (Source: wordpress)

Famous for its beautiful, pristine beaches, the state of Goa (India) is considered to have the most developed tourism sector in India. With its fertile lands, fine white sands, attractive cuisine , and rich cultural identity, most tourists who come here love the simple, rustic charm of these beaches.

However, according to fund managers, Vietnam, a Southeast Asian coastal nation, has emerged as one of the top tourist destinations recently, with an increasing number of Indian tourists choosing the country over Goa – known for its pristine beaches and vibrant nightlife.

Indian tourists enjoy visiting Vietnam. (Source: Saigongiaiphongnews)

A “new Thailand”?

Mr. Mehta stated that India is losing tourists to Southeast Asian countries due to rising real estate prices driving up hotel costs. Vietnam is becoming the new Thailand. He said, “Regular tours are affordable thanks to direct flights and offer good value for money.” “We are losing to Southeast Asian countries because of high real estate prices leading to high hotel rental costs. Going to Bali or Hanoi is cheaper than Goa… Strange! What is the solution?”

The fund manager's post sparked a debate. Saurabh Parmar, a businessman, said he had lived in Vietnam for two years. He stated, "This is nothing new; travel in India has always been more expensive."

In May of this year, Vietnam+ – an online newspaper in Vietnam – reported that the number of searches for accommodation in Vietnam increased rapidly, ranking 11th in the world. The largest sources of searches for tourism in Vietnam include the US, Japan, Australia, Singapore, India, Thailand, France, Germany, the UK, and South Korea.

In July, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration announced that the country had welcomed nearly 5.6 million international tourists in the first half of 2023, accounting for 66% of the total number recorded in 2019 before the Covid-19 outbreak.

Bali ranked second in Trip Advisor's 2023 'Best Destinations' list. (Source: Business Today)

Many competitive advantages

Abhishek Rai, an investor, said he had visited Bali, Hanoi, and Phuket three times this year and only once in Goa. "Goa is 2.5 times more expensive, not as clean, and most importantly, I felt uncomfortable after spending so much money on my family. Compared to Nha Trang, Vietnam, it's far superior. Goa has lost customers," he wrote on the X platform.

Bali ranked second in Trip Advisor's 2023 Best Destinations list. Interestingly, Bali was the only Southeast Asian city in the top 10. Ubud, a town in Bali, was ranked 4th in Travel + Leisure readers' 2023 list of the world's 25 most loved cities.

Speaking about Goa, businessman Monil Nitin Parikh said that Goa has become extremely expensive due to the overwhelming number of tourists. “It’s really not cheap; even a week-long trip will cost over 10,000 per person, even if you rent basic bed and breakfast hotels. Goa has become incredibly expensive because of the excessively high volume of tourism,” he shared.

Last November, Savills, an international real estate consultancy, stated that Goa had become a favorite location for those looking to buy a second home due to its high rental yields. These yields range from 4% to 10%.

According to the consultant, the districts of Porvorim, Parra, Assagaon, Saligao, Anjuna, and Siolim have seen high demand for detached houses and villas for rent in gated communities. Depending on the room size and number of villas, the cost per night ranges from 15,000 Rupees to 100,000 Rupees (approximately over US$180 to US$1200).

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ha-noi-re-hon-goa-du-lich-an-do-dang-danh-roi-du-khach-vao-tay-cac-nuoc-dong-nam-a-255021.html