An estimated 370,000 foreign tourists visited Viet Nam in April, a 20 percent increase over the previous year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The figure brought the total number of foreign visitors to the country in the first four months of the year to 1.5 million.

This year's long national holidays have sparked a surge in both inbound and outbound tours since the beginning of April, resulting in a 15-20 percent increase of tour prices, according to the Viet Nam Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Tours to several famous tourism sites in Viet Nam, such as the cultural heritage site Ha Long Bay, Cua Lo, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet beaches, Sapa and Da Lat resorts, have been fully booked since the middle of April.

With diversified cultural and tourism festivals being held throughout the country this year, Viet Nam will most likely attract 4 million foreign tourists in 2007, according to VNAT's Investment Promotion Department head, Pham Huu Minh.

(Source: VNA)