Of which, tourists to Vietnam for tourism purposes were 231,500 arrivals, down 10.5% year-on-year, and others to Vietnam for business purposes were 65,000, falling 17.6% and visitors to Vietnam to visit relatives were 55,000, a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%.

In 2008, the number of international tourists to Vietnam decreased considerably such as China with only 60,700 arrivals, down 12.1%, Japan 34,700, falling 1.5%, US 33,400, down 18.1% and Korea 33,000, a y-o-y decrease of 30.1%.

The number of foreigners arriving in Vietnam increased in 2008 such as France with 19,300 arrivals, up 51.1% year-on-year, Malaysia 19,000 arrivals, rising 23.2% and Singapore with 18,300 arrivals, increasing 26.6% from previous year.

Kinh Te Vietnam - February 3, 2009