First quarter arrivals to Vietnam up 36.2 pct

The number of foreign tourists visiting Vietnam in the first quarter increased 36.2 percent from a year ago to 1.35 million on the back of a recovery in global economy.
In March alone the number of foreign visitors reached 473,000, up 6.1 percent from the previous month, the Vietnam Economic Times reported, citing figures released by the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
The ministry attributes the good showing to economic recovery in many key tourism markets as well as additional promotions launched by the local tourism industry.
The period saw sharp increases in arrivals from regional countries, with Cambodian visitors up 147.2 percent and Chinese arrivals up 115 percent.