Temple of Literature is a popular destination for foreign tourists to Vietnam (Photo: VOV)

In recent weeks, tourism in Southeast Asia and Vietnam has been covered frequently in European media. Le Figaro of France said tourism outside France has recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Asia leads among popular destinations and many tourists are heading for Vietnam.

Travel agents noted a 33% increase in air ticket sales during the Christmas and New Year holidays. According to Le Figaro, Vietnam is a destination of great interest to the French this year, because 2024 marks the 70th anniversary of Vietnam’s Dien Bien Phu victory against the French, an historical event still taught in French schools.

The French newspaper Ouest ran an article about a French high school that just bought tickets for a history teacher and 29 students to visit Vietnam at the end of April to see Dien Bien Phu.

Foreign tourists visit Viet Tri city, Phu Tho province (Photo: VOV)

The French newspaper Maxi called Ha Long Bay the most famous landscape in Vietnam. The German newspaper Rhin News last week ran an article about a German couple who had just returned from Vietnam.

The 55-year-old wife fondly recounted a night run she made to see Hanoi. Starting at 1:30 am, she ran from the Opera House through the Old Quarter near Hoan Kiem Lake to Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum before crossing the 5.8-kilometer Chuong Duong bridge across the Red River and then recrossing the river on the Long Bien railway bridge.

Vietnam’s attraction for European tourists is partly due to innovative changes in promotion and marketing. Last year Vietnam's tourism businesses participated in several tourism fairs and promotional events in Europe. In November, they attended the World Travel Market in London. Vietnamese travel companies offer foreign tourists new options, including train and bus tours and nature tours.