Vietnam's Jan-May foreign arrivals up 37 pct

Foreign arrivals in Vietnam in the first five months rose 37.7 percent to 2.2 million on the strength of promotion campaigns and some regional developments.
Ho Chi Minh City accounted for more than half of the total figure with 1.3 million arrivals. In May alone the number of arrivals to Vietnam reached 440,000, up 50.3 percent from a year ago, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
Analysts attribute the increase in arrivals to the success of promotional programs launched since mid 2009, especially in China. Arrivals from China rose an impressive 111 percent during the first five months.
Vietnam's tourism also benefited from the recent turmoil in Thailand, which has driven many tourists to seek safer places in the region, they say.
They also say that with Thailand taking measures to bring back the tourists, the number of arrivals to Vietnam in the remaining months of the year will be affected.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is working with other stakeholders on a tourism stimulus program called “Vietnam – Your destination” to be implemented in August and September.