Chinese tourists without visas but laissez-passers will be allowed to travel across Vietnam from Sept.12, instead of only seven northern cities and provinces of the country.

Chinese people who enter Vietnam via roads, railways and seaways, specifically through international border gates in the six northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai and Lai Chau, and international seaports will enjoy the new regulation issued by Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) told Xinhua on Monday.

"National tourism bodies of Vietnam and China are jointly working to raise the operating effectiveness of travel agencies of the two countries so that more Chinese visitors will enjoy tours throughout Vietnam conveniently and safely,"the VNAT said.

"We are also working with airlines so that Chinese tourists can go to Vietnam by air in the near future to shorten their traveling time,"it added.

After the introduction of the new regulation, Vietnam hopes to receive one million visitors annually from China which has been its biggest tourist market in recent years, said the VNAT.

China remained Vietnam's largest tourist market in the first eight months of this year with a year-on-year increase of 39 percent in the number of Chinese mainland visitors During the period, Vietnam has hosted roughly 520,000 visitors from the Chinese mainland, or nearly 27.5 percent of the total number of international arrivals to the country, said VNAT.

The majority of Chinese people, who often go to Vietnam on holidays, visit the World Heritage-listed Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh province. Those from bordering localities can enter six other northern localities of Vietnam with laissez-passers.

Other key tourist markets of Vietnam between January and August included the United States with nearly 188,000 visitors, Chinese Taiwan with over 166,000, and Japan with more than 160,000.

Vietnam, which targets to receive 2.7-2.8 million international arrivals this year, up 22.7-27.3 percent against last year, plans to host 3-3.5 million foreign visitors, and achieve tourism revenues of over 2 billion US dollars next year.

According to the latest assessment of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Vietnam's annual tourism growth rate will reach 8.3 percent in the next 10 years, ranking the fourth after Montenegro, China, and India.

Source: Xinhua