More than 400,000 international visitors arrived in the country in January; an increase of 20.6 percent over the same period last year and 10 percent more than in December 2009, said Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Japanese visitors go to Ben Thanh Market to do shopping. (Photo:KK)

He was speaking at the Saigontourist Company’s year-end conference in Ho Chi Minh City on February 3. The local tourism industry expects to receive 4.5-4.8 million foreign visitors in 2010, he added.

In addition, the number of international arrivals to HCM City was 280,000 in January, a 7 percent rise over the same period in 2009. Among the visitors, overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu) comprised 143,000, up 10 percent over last year.

On the same day, Director General of Saigontourist Nguyen Huu Tho said the company will upgrade its 3-5 star hotels nationwide to provide an additional 1,000 rooms over the next three years.

Saigontourist now has 3,000 hotel rooms including 1,500 high-class ones.