Ha Noi and the central coastal city of Da Nang are among the top three charming cities for young Japanese visitors in recent years, thanks to many cultural similarities and tourist attractions, a recent Ha Noi-Japan investment conference heard.

Nearly 600,000 Japanese visited Viet Nam last year, 7.8 per cent more than in 2016.

The 1,000-year-old capital welcomed 290,000 of them while Da Nang, home to the UNESCO-recognised world heritage site of Hoi An, received 177,000, according to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism.

The Japanese ambassador to Viet Nam, Umeda Kunio, said an online survey of Japanese youngsters’ travel preferences found them saying Ha Noi and Da Nang have piqued their curiosity with their old culture, centuries-old heritages and world-renowned landmarks.

Japan is the third largest market for Viet Nam’s tourism sector behind China and South Korea, and the country is hopeful of receiving one million Japanese visitors this year.