Vietnamese tourists enjoy traveling to Australia.

Australian tourists consider Vietnam a top destination, and conversely, Vietnamese people also enjoy traveling to Australia.

According to Statistics Australia, nearly 82,000 Australians visited Vietnam in the first quarter, a 14.4% increase compared to the same period in 2019, due to significantly more attractive prices compared to other destinations. Surveys from several travel companies show that Australia is also a major destination for Vietnamese tourists. Statistics from Best Price indicate that tours to Australia account for approximately 10% of the company's total outbound tourists. Meanwhile, BenThanh Tourist is also planning weekly tours to Australia. During the summer, Vietluxtour will operate around 5-6 tours to Australia each month.

The "Twelve Apostles" wonder in Australia. Photo: Celebrity Cruises

According to most travel companies, there are several reasons why Australia is attractive to Vietnamese tourists. Firstly, airlines have opened more direct flights from Hanoi /Ho Chi Minh City to Sydney/Melbourne, allowing companies to create tour packages with diverse flight times and flexible itineraries. As a result, tourists have more choices regarding departure times.

Ms. Tran Phuong Linh, Marketing and IT Director of BenThanh Tourist, commented that the participation of many airlines in the Australian market has helped to lower airfare prices, saving costs for tourists. Australia's visa policy, with a validity period of up to 3 years (multiple entry), along with its quick and efficient application process, also makes this destination more attractive.

Furthermore, Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, with a climate that is the opposite of most of the world . While Vietnam is experiencing a hot summer, Australia is in winter. This is also one of the interesting aspects for tourists looking to escape the summer heat.

However, according to most travel agencies, the main reason remains visiting relatives. Statistics from June 2021 by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection show that nearly 270,000 Vietnamese people live in the country, making them the sixth largest foreign community in Australia.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dat, CEO of Best Price, said that Australian tour programs usually allocate one free day for guests. This is mainly time for tourists to combine their trip with visiting relatives.

The company's most popular tours are the 8-day, 7-night three-city tour: Sydney - Melbourne - Canberra, and the 5-day, 4-night tour combining sightseeing with visiting relatives. Guests typically have a free day on the third day. The average price for a tour is around 30 million VND per person, including visa fees.

BenThanh Tourist offers tours exploring cities such as Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Gold Coast. Standard tour programs have itineraries of 6-8 days and prices range from 47-66 million VND, depending on the specific program. In addition, the company also offers premium, customized Australia tours designed to meet customer requirements.

According to Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Director of Communications at Vietluxtour, besides visiting relatives, tourists often combine travel with surveying schools for their children's study abroad plans. Currently, there are approximately 24,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia, ranking fifth among countries with the most students studying in the country, according to a representative of the Australian Government's Trade and Investment Agency (Austrade).

"Therefore, customized tours are very popular among Vietnamese tourists traveling to Australia," Ms. Thu said.

Vnexpress.net