A foreign couple visits an antique house in the capital city of Ha Noi. The number of foreign tourists to Viet Nam is expected to reach more than 6.6 million this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Anh Tuan

HA NOI (VNS)— It has been estimated that international visitors to Viet Nam numbered over 6,647,700, representing a rise of 9.5 per cent over last year, according the General Statistics Office (GSO).

This was the highest figure of international arrivals to the country ever recorded.

Of the total, more than four million - accounting for nearly 63 per cent - came for the purposes of tourism, an increase of 7.3 per cent. 1.166 million came for business (up 16.2 per cent) while close to 1.150 million came to visit relatives (up 14.3 per cent).

84 per cent of the visitors (5.576 million) arrived to Viet Nam by air, a 10.8 per cent increase over last year. 285,500 arrived over sea (up 0.8 per cent) and 986,000 entered by road (up 5.4 per cent).

According to GSO, international visitors from most countries and territories saw positive increases compared to last year. China topped the list with 1.428,7 million arrivals (a rise of 8 per cent), followed by South Korea (700,900 arrivals, an increase of 30.7 per cent) and Japan (576,400 arrivals, up 19.7 per cent).

With each visitor spending, on average, US$1,000, remittances by international visitors are estimated to amount to $6.6 billion, exceeding last year's record of $5.62 billion.

The numbers of international visitors increased steadily from 3.58 million in 2006 to 4.24 million in 2008 and 5.05 million in 2010. — VNS