Strong increases were recorded in the number of tourists visiting localities around Vietnam during the seven-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday from January 8-14.

The capital Hanoi welcomed some 653,000 visitors, up 21.6 per cent year-on-year, including nearly 103,000 foreign tourists, a year-on-year increase of 2.2 per cent, according to the Hanoi Department of Tourism.

It put total revenue from tourism activities at an estimated VND2.35 trillion ($96.21 million), up 35.1 per cent year-on-year.

Foreign visitors were primarily from South Korea, China, the US, India, France, the UK, Germany, and Japan.

Vietnam’s capital has set a target of welcoming 26.5 million tourists this year, a year-on-year rise of 10.4 per cent, including 5 million foreign tourists. Total tourism turnover is expected to reach over VND99.7 trillion ($4.06 billion).

More than 260,000 tourists visited northern mountainous Lao Cai province, home of Sapa, during the holiday, including 8,400 foreigners. Total tourism revenue was estimated at VND900 billion ($36.7 million).

Northern Quang Ninh province, home of Ha Long Bay, welcomed over 800,000 visitors. The province targets welcoming 17 million tourists this year, including 3 million international tourists.