Vietnam Sees Steady Growth In International Tourism, With Major Influx From Mainland China, South Korea, And Visitors Exploring Ha Long Bay And Ho Chi Minh City

Published on October 6, 2025

In 2025, Vietnam has knowledgeable a notable summation successful foreign tourism, pinch a recorded 15.4 cardinal world arrivals betwixt January and September. This marks a 21.5% maturation compared to nan aforesaid play successful nan erstwhile year. However, contempt this awesome rise, nan state is still acold from reaching its extremity of welcoming 25 cardinal visitors by nan extremity of nan year. This surge is mostly attributed to favorable visa policies, promotional campaigns, and nan hosting of important events celebrating nationalist holidays.

Major Countries Contributing to Tourism Growth

During nan first 9 months of nan year, Mainland China emerged arsenic nan largest contributor to Vietnam’s tourism, pinch astir 3.8 cardinal visitors, marking a 43% year-on-year increase. Following China, South Korea came successful second, pinch 3.2 million tourists, and Taiwan classed 3rd pinch astir 926,000 arrivals. Other important root countries included the United States, Japan, India, and Russia.

The tourism numbers uncover a dependable and divers inflow of visitors, pinch travelers from Cambodia, Malaysia, and Australia besides contributing to nan figures. The government’s strategy of expanding visa exemptions has played a cardinal domiciled successful this growth.

A Boost from Policy Changes and Events

One of nan cardinal drivers down nan surge successful overseas visitors has been Vietnam’s expanded visa exemption policy. In August, nan authorities waived visa requirements for citizens of 12 European countries, allowing stays of up to 45 days without a visa. This move brought nan full number of countries eligible for visa exemptions to 39.

Tourism professionals person besides pointed to Vietnam’s proactive promotional campaigns and nan hosting of taste events arsenic factors contributing to nan country’s tourism boom. These efforts, mixed pinch a renewed liking successful Vietnam’s rich | history and earthy beauty, person encouraged much world visitors to visit.

Significant Tourism Growth successful nan Third Quarter

The 3rd 4th of 2025 saw Vietnam pull 4.7 cardinal world visitors, marking a important 23% year-on-year growth. This beardown capacity is simply a clear motion of nan country’s entreaty arsenic a recreation destination, fueled by its evolving tourism infrastructure and world relations.

Vietnam’s tourism ministry continues to beryllium optimistic astir achieving its target of 23-25 cardinal overseas arrivals by nan extremity of 2025. This extremity is now much wrong reach, fixed nan dependable gait of maturation successful tourer arrivals from nan first 9 months.

Tips for Travelers Visiting Vietnam

For those readying to sojourn Vietnam, location are respective recommendations to heighten nan experience:

• Explore Major Cities and Natural Sites: Vietnam is celebrated for its vibrant cities for illustration Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and stunning earthy landscapes for illustration Ha Long Bay and nan Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park. Don’t miss these iconic locations to get a consciousness of nan country’s rich | civilization and history.
• Take Advantage of Visa Exemptions: If you are from 1 of nan countries that bask visa exemptions, it’s a awesome opportunity to research Vietnam for up to 45 days without nan hassle of visa applications.
• Stay During Cultural Festivals: Time your travel astir nationalist holidays aliases section festivals to acquisition nan champion of Vietnam’s celebrations and accepted performances.

Tourism Trends successful Southeast Asia

As Vietnam enjoys a surge successful tourism, its location neighbor, Thailand, has knowledgeable a flimsy dip successful overseas arrivals. Thailand saw a diminution of 7.5% successful world tourism, welcoming 24.11 cardinal visitors from January to September. This diminution contrasts pinch nan maturation knowledgeable successful Vietnam, highlighting nan evolving competitory dynamics successful Southeast Asia’s tourism industry.

Vietnam’s emergence arsenic a apical recreation destination successful Asia is undoubtedly impressive. The state is positioning itself arsenic a starring hub for tourism, driven by government initiatives, better accessibility, and its expanding entreaty to world travelers. However, location remains activity to beryllium done successful reaching nan 25 cardinal tourer target, particularly arsenic nan state looks to prolong this momentum passim nan remaining months of 2025.

What Should Travelers Do When Visiting Vietnam?

Vietnam is afloat of rich | experiences, from humanities sites to breathtaking quality spots. To make nan astir of your trip, effort these tips:

• Immerse Yourself successful Local Culture: Whether it’s visiting nan Imperial City of Hue aliases enjoying nan hustle and bustle of section markets, Vietnam offers plentifulness to sorb successful position of culture and history.
• Sample Traditional Cuisine: Vietnam’s nutrient civilization is incredibly diverse. Don’t miss retired connected dishes for illustration Pho, Banh Mi, and Spring Rolls, which are celebrated among locals and visitors alike.
• Venture Beyond nan Tourist Spots: While nan celebrated tourer spots are must-visits, see exploring lesser-known regions for illustration Mekong Delta aliases Sapa for unsocial experiences and scenic landscapes.

Vietnam’s tourism manufacture is connected nan rise, but continued effort successful improving infrastructure and fostering much world relations is cardinal to achieving nan extremity of 25 cardinal visitors this year. For travelers, nan adjacent fewer months connection a unsocial model of opportunity to research a quickly evolving and progressively accessible destination.