More and more young people in Vietnam are heading overseas for holidays due to falling travel costs.
Three years ago, a trip from Vietnam to South Korea would cost VND20 million (US$857) or more, Viet Nam News reported. The most affordable tours to Japan would set them back VND30 million.
However, according to a manager of a travel agency based in Ho Chi Minh City, tours to Taiwan, Japan, South Korea and China cost just marginally more than travelling to countries in Southeast Asia. A five-day trip to South Korea can be had for under VND12 million and a four-day vacation in Japan costs VND 21-22 million.
Some agencies even offer rock-bottom prices for tours to Taiwan and South Korea, with trips costing VND8-9 million (US$343 to 386).
As well as tour costs decreasing, the overseas purchasing power of Vietnamese citizens has gone up. According to a report by VN Express, each Vietnamese traveler spends an average of US$1,100, up from previous reports of US$880.
In 2016, 4.8 million Vietnamese traveled outside the country. MasterCard predicts that the number will go up to 7.5 million in 2021.
Conversly for us now holidaying in Vietnam is not the bargain it used to be. The value of the Vietnamese Dong has gone up against the likes of A$ and most other SE Asian currencies. That’s a trend we have to get used to as economic performance shifts from West to East
Conversly for us now holidaying in Vietnam is not the bargain it used to be. The value of the Vietnamese Dong has gone up against the likes of A$ and most other SE Asian currencies. That’s a trend we have to get used to as economic performance shifts from West to East