Vietnam is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for British tourists, according to a new report released by the UK's Post Office.
According to the Post Office Travel Money's Fastest Growing Currencies report for June-August, the Vietnamese dong was the fastest-growing foreign currency in the United Kingdom this past summer.
The Fastest Growing Currencies review by the Post Office, a retail postal service company that provides postal and banking services in the UK, measures demand for travel to global destinations of British holidaymakers based on currency sales.
The annual review revealed a year-on-year growth of 68 percent in currency sales - suggesting a boom in Vietnam holidays, fuelled by the introduction of direct flights last December and a host of new beach resorts.
National carrier Vietnam Airlines began service between Gatwick and Hanoi in December 2011, the first direct flights to Vietnam from Britain, reducing the journey by several hours.
Another reason for the sharp increase of Britons vacationing in Vietnam is the recent opening of new holiday resorts. Anantara Mui Ne officially opened its doors in April this year, while the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort made its grand opening in June 2012.
More international chain hotels are expected to open in Vietnam in the near future, including the Hilton Da Nang, which plans to welcome its first guests in 2013, and Movenpick Hotels & Resorts' Quy Nhon due to open 2015.
The review also revealed that the other top two growth destinations for British vacationers are Brazil and Hungary, with currency sales for the Brazilian real up 66 percent year-on-year, and the Hungarian forint up 59 percent year-on-year.