Vietnam attracts French tourists during Christmas and New Year holidays

According to a VNA correspondent in Paris, French travel agencies have recorded a strong increase in demand for Christmas and year-end travel, with Vietnam emerging as one of the most popular long-term destinations among French people since the pandemic. The trend of last-minute bookings has helped the market thrive, despite the uncertain economic situation.

International tourists visit Hoan Kiem Lake during Lunar New Year. Photo: Minh Quyet/VNA

According to data from the Orchestra analytics system for the French Tourism Association, the number of Christmas tour bookings this year increased by 5.4% compared to the same period last year, while the average spending per tourist was almost unchanged at 3,916 euros. Valérie Boned, President of the Association, said that the French still prioritize their budget for travel, especially at the end of the year - the time when they often choose long and distant trips with their families.

Among the long-term destinations, Vietnam is considered a bright spot. Mr. Patrice Caradec, President of Seto - the French Association of Tour Operators - said that Vietnam "has never attracted so many French tourists since COVID-19". The country's opening later than some other Asian countries has caused pent-up demand to increase sharply when the tourism industry fully recovers. Currently, the "S"-shaped country has returned to the same level as before the pandemic.

Vietnam’s breakthrough comes as this year’s winter travel season has seen many positive signs in the long-haul segment. According to Orchestra, distant destinations such as Mexico (+10.6%), Thailand (+2.4%) or the Dominican Republic (+2.2%) all saw significant growth, thanks to the expansion of routes by airlines Air France and Air Caraïbes.

In the group of medium-distance destinations, Egypt recorded an impressive return with an increase of 46.6%, while Cap-Vert increased by 11.8%. Morocco (+2.3%) and Tunisia (+4.9%) continued to be stable choices for French tourists. Some agencies such as Comptoir des Voyages reported a decrease in arrivals to Morocco, but this was offset by strong growth in Italy, Spain and Jordan. The trend towards Northern Europe – such as Finland and Iceland – was clearly reduced, while Egypt benefited from the opening of a new museum in Cairo.

Travel agencies say the market is unpredictable this year. Many French tourists are waiting until November to book tours – a rare phenomenon, as peak booking periods usually fall in September and October. The sharp increase in service prices after the pandemic – from airfares, hotels to experiences – has made buyers think carefully. However, according to Mr. Didier Arino, Director of research firm Protourisme, tourism continues to be the “number one priority” in spending for French households, as they “want to reward themselves with a real break”.

Seto’s forecasts suggest that the growth won’t stop at Christmas. From November 1 to April 30, the number of French tourists traveling abroad is expected to increase by 7% in number of arrivals and 9% in bookings. While travel agencies have suggested that the post-COVID “recovery travel” trend is over, they say the opposite is true: the need to escape the cold winter, find sunshine and long-distance journeys remains strong.

In that general picture, Vietnam emerges as a particularly attractive destination, thanks to both its attractive landscape and culture and its effective tourism recovery policy, continuing to affirm its important position on the winter tourism map of visitors from the hexagonal country.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/viet-nam-hut-khach-phap-dip-nghi-le-giang-sinh-va-nam-moi-20251207221437970.htm