Vietnam’s Nha Trang emerges as top early summer destination for Korean travelers
A beach in Nha Trang, Vietnam. gettyimagesbank
As Korea faces unseasonably hot weather, more travelers are planning early summer vacations — and the coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, has emerged as the most popular international destination among Korean tourists, according to recent data.
Global travel platform Agoda revealed Thursday that based on hotel search data for June and July check-ins, Nha Trang ranked No. 1 among Korean travelers’ preferred overseas destinations.
Often called the “Naples of Vietnam,” the city overtook last year’s top pick, Tokyo, which dropped to second place. Other highly searched destinations included Fukuoka and Osaka in Japan and Da Nang in Vietnam, placing third through fifth, respectively.
The continued global inflation trend appears to be shifting demand toward nearby destinations that offer affordable prices and shorter flight times.
China is also emerging as a new hotspot. Search volumes for Qingdao and Shanghai surged by 212 percent and 207 percent, respectively. This spike is attributed to China’s temporary visa exemption program for Korean nationals, introduced in November 2023.
For domestic travel, Jeju Island remains the most searched destination, followed by Seoul, Busan, Sokcho and Gangneung. Gangwon Province's Sokcho and Gangneung, in particular, have seen increased interest since the opening of the Donghae Line (East Sea Line) late last year, which has significantly improved accessibility to Korea’s eastern coastline.
“Due to forecasts of extreme heat and a prolonged monsoon season this summer, many travelers appear to be moving up their vacation plans,” said an Agoda official.
While most Korean office workers typically take summer holidays from late July to early August, early travel offers advantages such as lower accommodation costs and a chance to avoid peak-season crowds.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.