Why Vietnam Is Overtaking Japan As Australia’s Fastest-growing Travel Destination In 2025

Published on August 18, 2025

In an unexpected move of events, Vietnam has emerged arsenic nan fastest-growing outbound recreation destination for Australian tourists. As of June 2025, nan Southeast Asian federation has seen a singular 27.5% summation successful travel, making it nan apical destination for short-term resident returns from Australia. This maturation is peculiarly notable fixed that Japan, a long-time favourite of Australian travelers, has traditionally dominated nan outbound recreation market. According to nan latest information from nan Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Vietnam’s surge outpaces different destinations, including China and Japan, highlighting nan increasing liking successful this culturally rich | and move country.

Vietnam’s Rise successful Popularity Among Australians
Over nan twelvemonth starring to June 2025, nan measurement of Australian visitors to Vietnam reached 31,840, marking a important jump from erstwhile years. This surge places Vietnam arsenic 1 of nan top 10 destinations for Australian travelers. The summation successful short-term resident returns demonstrates nan expanding entreaty of Vietnam, pinch its rich | taste offerings, beautiful landscapes, and increasing tourism infrastructure drafting much and much Australians each year. The federation has quickly established itself arsenic an basal marketplace successful nan Southeast Asia recreation assemblage for Australia.

This maturation was propelled by respective factors, including enhanced aerial connectivity, competitory recreation packages, and nan familiarity that Australian visitors person pinch nan state owed to Vietnamese communities already well-established successful Australia. Additionally, nan maturation was supported by nan opening of caller routes and improved recreation conditions, making Vietnam a much accessible action for travelers.

Key Competitors: China and Japan’s Travel Trends
Vietnam’s maturation comes astatine a clip erstwhile China and Japan person besides seen important changes successful recreation patterns. China reported a 26.8% summation successful outbound travel, placing it conscionable down Vietnam successful position of growth. Japan, while still popular, registered a 10.5% increase, ranking 3rd successful maturation but good down nan explosive emergence of Vietnam.

While some China and Vietnam use from nan VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) market, wherever Australian nationals sojourn family members domiciled successful these countries, nan conditions surrounding China’s reopening post-pandemic and Vietnam’s much established tourism offerings person contributed to nan noticeable spread betwixt them and different destinations. The accrued air connectivity betwixt Australia and some Vietnam and China, arsenic good arsenic nan description of airlines for illustration Shenzhen Airlines into nan Melbourne market, besides fueled nan maturation seen successful these 2 countries.

Australia’s Top 10 Outbound Travel Destinations successful June 2025
In June 2025, Indonesia led nan measurement pinch nan highest number of resident returns astatine 149,260, mostly acknowledgment to Bali being a celebrated vacation hotspot. New Zealand followed pinch 80,960 visitors, maintaining its beardown position arsenic a preferred destination for Australians. Other destinations successful nan apical 10 included the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and Thailand, each of which saw dependable visitant numbers.

Vietnam, which classed ninth connected this list, is quickly catching up pinch nan accepted favorites, signaling a displacement successful nan preferences of Australian travelers. The ABS information for June besides highlights that countries for illustration Italy, Fiji, and China knowledgeable insignificant fluctuations, indicating nan analyzable dynamics astatine play wrong nan outbound recreation market.

Understanding nan Growth Drivers for Vietnam
Several cardinal factors person been identified arsenic driving nan maturation of Vietnamese tourism for Australians. These see nan cultural appeal of cities for illustration Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, arsenic good arsenic nan affordability of recreation wrong nan country. Moreover, nan easiness of entree to destinations specified arsenic Hoi An and Halong Bay, alongside nan increasing estimation of Vietnamese cuisine and hospitality, has accrued Vietnam’s allure among Australian travelers.

The recreation trends besides propose that Vietnamese communities successful Australia play a important domiciled successful boosting visitation, pinch galore Australians walking to sojourn relatives and research nan country’s rich | heritage. The adjacent taste ties betwixt some nations person created a solid foundation for tourism growth, providing Australians pinch a acquainted yet breathtaking destination.

Impact of Increased Air Connectivity
Increased aerial recreation options betwixt Australia and Vietnam person further contributed to nan rising liking successful nan country. Airlines, including some Australian and Vietnamese carriers, person expanded their services, providing much nonstop flights and competitory pricing. This easiness of entree has made Vietnam a much charismatic and convenient action for Australians looking for some short getaways and longer stays.

Growth of Short-Term Resident Returns and Broader Trends
Vietnam’s singular maturation is portion of a broader inclination of expanding short-term resident returns for Australians. For instance, full outbound trips from Australia reached 914,080 successful June 2025, a 5.8% increase from nan erstwhile year. This marks an awesome betterment from nan pandemic and showcases Australians’ eagerness to recreation overseas erstwhile again. In particular, nan states of New South Wales, Victoria, and Queensland recorded nan highest number of outbound trips, which were mostly driven by celebrated vacation destinations specified arsenic Bali and New Zealand.

Travel to Other Popular Destinations
While Vietnam and China person seen important growth, different destinations for illustration Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United States stay accordant successful their entreaty to Australian tourists. Countries for illustration the United Kingdom and Japan besides proceed to pull ample numbers of travelers, albeit astatine a slower maturation rate. For example, Japan saw a healthy 10.5% summation successful travel, while Thailand knowledgeable a slight year-on-year summation of 3.2%.

Meanwhile, immoderate destinations for illustration Italy and Fiji recorded insignificant decreases successful visitant numbers, highlighting nan shifting preferences of Australian travelers.

The Future of Australia’s Travel Market
The latest statistic item a displacement successful Australian travelers’ preferences, pinch Vietnam making its people arsenic nan fastest-growing outbound destination. While China and Japan stay cardinal markets, Vietnam’s affordability, cultural appeal, and strong organization ties pinch Australia person placed it firmly successful nan spotlight. As nan tourism manufacture continues to retrieve and expand, it’s clear that Southeast Asia, pinch Vietnam astatine nan forefront, will proceed to beryllium a awesome subordinate successful nan world recreation scenery for Australians.