BANGKOK: Vietnam began the new tourism year with a record: Almost 2.5 million international visitors arrived in January, the highest number ever in a single month, according to the national tourism authority VNAT.
Arrivals were also 18.5% higher than a year earlier, VNAT said.
The South-East Asian country is increasingly popular with travellers from around the world, in contrast to other destinations in the region such as Thailand and Cambodia, which have recently recorded declining visitor numbers.
Among other factors, the smouldering border conflict between the two neighbours was responsible. Last year, there were repeated clashes in the border region.
Why is Vietnam so popular?
Most tourists in Vietnam come from other Asian countries, but significantly more travellers are also coming from Europe.
VNAT cited eased visa rules, additional international direct connections and the appeal of Vietnam as a long-haul destination during the European winter months as reasons for the boom.
German citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 45 days.
Above all, the country offers a diverse mix of nature, culture and beach holidays.
What are the main attractions?
Among the most popular destinations is Ha Long Bay in the north, with its spectacular limestone cliffs, which is listed as a Unesco World Natural Heritage site.
The capital, Hanoi, is also in the north. Its Old Quarter is a colourful, lively labyrinth of historic alleyways, with traditional food stalls, French colonial buildings and modern cafés. The "Train Street" offers pure thrills: several times a day, a train rattles past house façades, cafe tables and astonished visitors just a few centimetres away.
Central Vietnam entices with the imperial city of Hue, the picturesque old town of Hoi An with thousands of colourful lanterns and long sandy beaches near Da Nang.
Meanwhile, tourists in the jungle on the nearby Son Tra peninsula can expect to glimpse a unique animal: the red-shanked douc, which, with its colourful fur and distinctive white beard, is often described as the most beautiful monkey in the world.
The south: NhaTrang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc
Further south lies Vietnam's best-known coastal city, Nha Trang, a seaside resort with long sandy beaches, turquoise water and tasty seafood.
The vibrant economic metropolis Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) is the starting point for tours into the Mekong Delta. The river flows into the South China Sea south of the city an expands into a vast delta of river branches, swamps and fertile fields.
Sunseekers are increasingly heading to Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand, and the island with its postcard-perfect beaches has so far been spared mass tourism.
However, because of the Vietnam boom, it is now noticeably more crowded here in the peak season from November to April. - dpa
