Vietnam welcomes over 9.2 million foreign tourists in first five months
In May alone, the country recorded 1.53 million international arrivals, a 10.5 per cent year-on-year increase, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported, citing the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).
Tour operators described this as a strong showing despite the end of the usual peak travel season, setting a 10-year record for the month and underscoring Vietnam's appeal as a year-round destination.
Tourism revenue from January to May was estimated at VN$38.4 trillion (US$1.47 billion), up 24.7 per cent from the same period in 2024.
Air travel accounted for 85.2 per cent of arrivals, followed by land crossings (12.9 per cent) and sea routes (1.9 per cent).
Despite its long coastline and port infrastructure, the VNAT noted that maritime tourism remains largely untapped.
China remained the top source market with 2.36 million visitors, followed by South Korea with over 1.9 million.
Other key markets included Taiwan (533,000), the United States (375,000), Japan (342,000), Cambodia (325,000), India (272,000), Australia (241,000), Malaysia (221,000) and Russia (210,000).
The tourism authority added that it would continue promotional efforts to meet its 2025 target of 22 to 23 million international visitors.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
PETRONAS to seek US$1bil for oil field stake sale
PETRONAS bought the stake in the Tartaruga Verde oil field in 2019. KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) is working with Bank of America Corp to sell its 50% stake in the Brazilian oil field Tartaruga Verde, according to people familiar with the matter. PETRONAS, as the Kuala Lumpur-based company is known, is looking to get about US$1bil for the stake, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing non-public information. The discussions are at an early stage and a deal may not happen, the people said. A representative for Bank of America declined to comment. PETRONAS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. PETRONAS bought the stake in the Tartaruga Verde oil field in 2019 as part of a bigger transaction with Petroleo Brasileiro SA, known as Petrobras, which still owns the remaining 50% stake. The field is based in the deep waters of Campos Basin in the Rio de Janeiro state. — Bloomberg
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Citaglobal acquires 12.8% stake in Mutiara Perlis
PETALING JAYA: Citaglobal Bhd has proposed to acquire a 12.8% indirect stake in Mutiara Perlis Sdn Bhd, the master developer of the Perlis Maritime Corridor (PMC), a US$6.5bil (RM27.8bil) logistics infrastructure project. The acquisition involves purchasing a 20% stake in Manjaran Sdn Bhd for RM40mil from Dedap Rimbun Sdn Bhd, satisfied through issuing 42.11 million new Citaglobal shares at 95 sen each. Dedap Rimbun will continue to hold 80% of Manjaran post-completion of the acquisition by Citaglobal. The PMC includes the Perlis Inland Port (PIP), Perlis Sanglang Port and Perlis Power Hub. The PIP, located 4.7km from the Malaysia-Thailand border in Padang Besar, is set to replace the overloaded Padang Besar Container Terminal. It will start operations in September 2025, offering increased container capacity and services such as warehousing for the halal, automotive and rubber industries. The Perlis Power Hub, meanwhile, will supply up to 5GW of electricity to Northern Malaysia and Southern Thailand, while the Sanglang Port will feature a bulk cargo terminal and a supply base for vessels and oil and gas operations. Citaglobal's involvement in the PMC began in August 2022, when its subsidiary, Citaglobal Land Sdn Bhd, was appointed as the engineering, procurement and construction contractor for PIP's Phase 1, valued at RM573.5mil. The federal government, through the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority, has invested nearly RM400mil in external infrastructure for the PIP, which aligns with the 12th Malaysia Plan and Northern Corridor Economic Region development plans. Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, executive chairman and president of Citaglobal, said: 'Our involvement and investment in the PMC aligns with our broader vision to emerge as one of Malaysia's leading players in infrastructure development and energy transition.' He noted that the completed Phase 1 of PIP and its upcoming operations could contribute to Citaglobal's revenue, with potential for future valuation gains as PMC assets mature. Datuk Shabaruddin Ibrahim, group executive chairman of Mutiara Perlis, said: 'We welcome Citaglobal into the Perlis Maritime Corridor family, and are excited to work together. 'We have a shared vision of developing the local economy of Perlis, improving social wellbeing while also strengthening Malaysia's regional logistical reach in Asia.' Mutiara Perlis is a joint venture, with Mutiara Infra holding an 80% stake and the Perlis State Government, via Menteri Besar Incorporated, holding 20%. Citaglobal, a public-listed company, operates in clean energy, civil engineering, telecommunications and manufacturing, with additional ventures in waste-to-energy and clean energy collaborations globally.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Malaysia sets sights on becoming Asean pharmaceutical and healthcare hub
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is setting its sights on becoming a halal pharmaceutical and healthcare hub for Asean, leveraging partnerships with India's booming pharma sector as industry leaders prepare for the Second Malaysia Pharma and Healthcare Expo (MPHC 2025) in October. The expo, to be held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur from Oct 7 to 9, is expected to attract over 100 companies, up from 70 last year, alongside policymakers, researchers and investors across Asean, India, Australia and South Korea. Organisers say the event will spotlight innovations in halal-certified drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), biotech, regenerative medicine, telehealth and AI-driven diagnostics. Malaysia-India Business Council general secretary Datuk Surendran Menon said trade between Malaysia and India stood at US$20 billion (RM84.6 billion) in 2024, but pharmaceuticals made up just US$96–$104 million of that figure, a sign of significant untapped potential. 'India is known as the pharma of the world, while Malaysia offers halal regulation expertise and a strategic Asean strong potential in contract manufacturing, technology transfer and joint R&D, especially in halal pharmaceuticals and vaccines,' Surendran told reporters at a media briefing today. He said Malaysia imports over 70% of its pharmaceutical products, and the government's national pharmaceutical policy is pushing for greater domestic production, a move that could entice Indian firms seeking to expand into Asean markets. He also pointed to India's own 200 million-strong Muslim population as an untapped market for halal pharma products manufactured in Malaysia. 'Even if we tap just 50 million of that halal market in India, it's far larger than our domestic market here. Halal-certified medicines made in Malaysia could be exported not just across Asean but also back into India itself,' he said. This strategy, he added, would allow two-way investment flows, Indian companies bringing R&D and cost efficiencies to Malaysia, while Malaysian firms could set up manufacturing or joint ventures in India. Asean-India Economic Council chairman Datuk Ramesh Kodammal said Malaysia stands to benefit from India's US$50 billion pharmaceutical export industry, particularly as Asean and India review their free trade agreement, which has been in place for 11 years. 'If we work closely with India, we will have a lot of benefit,' he said, adding Malaysia has a great advantage of re-exporting with these Indian companies for the Asean market a huge market of 700 million people. Ramesh confirmed 40 Indian companies are slated to participate in MPHC 2025, alongside Asean, Australian and South Korean firms.
