Vietnam increasingly attractive to Russian tourists

Russian press circles have confirmed Vietnam as the most popular choice in recent times for Russian tourists, with an increase of 68% year on year to over 51,000 arrivals in 2010.

The Voice of Russia quoted National League of Travel authorities as saying that Vietnam joined the group of countries with the largest numbers of Russian arrivals in 2010. The league’s press secretary, Irina Tiurina, highlighted low costs as one of the reasons that have made Vietnam the choice for Russian tourists instead of Thailand.

The number of Russian arrivals is not so big but demonstrates Vietnam’s success, she said.

Other factors that have made the hospitality industry successful are comfortable and safe services, while it’s a good time all the year round to travel in Vietnam. Beaches in the southern central cities of Phan Thiet and Nha Trang are the most attractive to Russian tourists.

Photographer Sergei Kovalchuk said Vietnam’s friendly environment, convenient transport and cheap transport charges were the first to make the country attractive to tourists. It also offers foreign tourists convenient trips to neighbouring Laos and Cambodia, he pointed out.

Journalist and India specialist Nina Rukavishnikova expressed her deep impression on Vietnam’s superb long coastline.

Positive feedback from Russian tourists has backed Vietnam’s high ranking in services, especially Hanoi, which was rated top in the “price-quality” index for excellent hotel services. (Source: )