HCMC – Vietnam served up to 55 million air passengers at local airports in 2022, a 3.7-fold increase over 2021, the year which witnessed widespread Covid-19 travel restrictions, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

While domestic tourists totaled 43.2 million, foreign arrivals surpassed 11 million, a 22-fold rise year-on-year.

The country’s airports handled 1.25 million tons of air freight, 1.1 million tons of which came from international flights.

According to the agency, Vietnam’s air transportation has shown signs of strongly rebounding since the late first quarter of 2022, notably in the domestic market.

As for the international segment, despite Vietnam resuming visa waivers for visitors from 25 countries in May 2022, the recovery pace has yet to meet expectations.

The authorities have collaborated closely with officials from the International Civil Aviation Organization and local counterparts in Russia, Germany, the United Kingdom, Laos and Cambodia, among others, to resume international flight routes.

Vietnam’s aviation sector is expected to fully return to its pre-pandemic performance level in 2023, potentially as early as 2024.