The Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) said Russian tourist arrivals in Viet Nam increased by 4 percent in January – February.

It confirmed data from the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism that Viet Nam welcomed nearly 147,000 Russian visitors during the period, including 71,000 in February alone.

PR Director of ICS Travel Group Anna Filatovskaya said demand for Viet Nam tours hiked by 15 – 20 percent year-on-year, especially during March 8 holiday. Meanwhile, tour reservation for May also increased significantly.

From July 2, the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to switch its flights from Domodedovo airport to Sheremetyevo airport so that Vietnam Airlines and Russia’s Aeroflot could launch codeshare flights to Vietnamese and Russian destinations.

According to a representative from Russia’s Annex tour agency, tourists on chartered flights bound for Viet Nam tend to choose five-star hotels and all-inclusive packages.

Nha Trang – Da Lat, Nha Trang – Phan Thiet and Phan Thiet – Phan Rang tours as well as those with lodging in Vinpearl hotel and resort chain are becoming increasingly popular.

Thanks to the availability of more direct chartered flights to Viet Nam during summer, tour prices tend down significantly compared to those to Thailand.