Chinese tourists arrive in Viet Nam on a cruise ship. (Photo: HB)

The growth was driven by the launch of new flights linking Ha Noi with the Chinese cities of Ningbo, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xi’an, with searches for the Vietnamese capital city in particular being boosted by 89%.

The new routes offer Chinese visitors opportunities to explore Viet Nam’s rich culture and diverse landscapes, while also enabling Vietnamese travellers to discover Chinese destinations, said Agoda Viet Nam Director Vu Ngoc Lam.

Data from China’s statistics bureau showed that China was the largest source of foreign visitors to Viet Nam in August, accounting for a quarter of total international arrivals in the Southeast Asian country.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese tourists also showed increased interest in China, with searches growing by 50% in the past two months.

Specifically, searches for Ningbo, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xi’an rose by 77%, 20%, 68%, and 130%, respectively, reflecting diverse travel demands ranging from cultural experiences to the exploration of vibrant cities and lesser-known destinations.