The number of overseas arrivals to Vietnam in January reached about 416,000, an increase of 20.4 percent over the same period last year, reported the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

Foreign tourists mainly came from Australia, Canada, the Republic of Korea, the United States, Japan and China .

Of the total, up to 59,000 were from China, a year-on-year increase of 94 percent.

During the first month of 2010, a number of famous cruise ships such as Voyages of Discovery, Spirit of Discovery and Costa Classica have selected Vietnam as their holiday destination.

The Saigon Travel Service Company (Saigontourist) on January 26-28 welcomed 2,000 tourists and crew sailing abroad liner Costa Classica, bringing the total number of international travelers the company received in January by sea to 6,000.

VietNamNet/VOV