HANOI, July 3. /TASS/. Vietnam's tourism industry posted strong growth in the first half of this year. The number of international visitors to the country increased by nearly 15% year-on-year to 12.3 mln.

According to VnExpress news portal, the 14.9% increase in international arrivals during the first six months of the year compared with the same period last year reflects Vietnam's growing reputation as a safe and stable travel destination amid global geopolitical uncertainty. Data from Vietnam's General Statistics Office show that mainland China remained Vietnam's largest international tourism market this year, with 2.69 million arrivals. It was followed by South Korea with 2.1 mln visitors and Russia, which accounted for 742,600 travelers. The top 10 also included the United States, Cambodia, India, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.

Vietnam's National Tourism Administration said the country's growing popularity among foreign visitors is driven by its diverse attractions, rich cultural heritage, competitive travel costs, and increasingly streamlined visa policy. Vietnam offers significant travel conveniences to all foreign visitors, who can obtain electronic visas allowing stays of up to 90 days with multiple entries, a policy regarded as the most open in Southeast Asia. In addition, Vietnam has unilaterally introduced a visa-free regime for citizens of several developed countries, including Russia.