Vietnam Sees Record-Breaking Tourism Growth Amid Rising Visitor Numbers

Strategic Insights -

Vietnam welcomed a staggering 9.2 million international tourists in the first five months of the year, marking a 21.3% increase against the same period in 2024. The surge in visitors has ignited a renewed interest in Vietnam's diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and well-developed infrastructure, making it an increasingly attractive destination for international travelers. The country's tourism sector is now setting its sights on reaching a record-breaking 22-23 million foreign visitors by the end of the year.

Key Takeaways:

  • Vietnam's international tourist arrivals rose by 21.3% in the first five months of the year, totaling 9.2 million visitors.
  • Aviation played a significant role, with 85.2% of international visitors arriving by air, while land border crossings accounted for 12.9% and sea travel made up 1.9% of arrivals.
  • China remained Vietnam's largest source market, contributing 25.7% of the total visitors, with 2.36 million arrivals, a 47.2% surge from the previous year.
  • The Republic of Korea ranked second with over 1.9 million tourists, equivalent to 20.7% of the total, followed by Taiwan, the US, Japan, Cambodia, India, Australia, Malaysia, and Russia in the top ten markets.
  • In May, Vietnam welcomed 1.53 million international tourists, up 10.5% from the previous year, marking a new May record in 10 years, indicating the country's growing appeal as a year-round destination.
  • The five-month tourism revenue is estimated at 38.4 trillion VND (1.47 billion USD), rising 24.7% year on year.
  • According to Agoda, a leading online travel platform, Vietnam ranks 5th among the most searched Asian destinations by European travelers for summer 2025, trailing only Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand.
  • Vietnam has been increasingly attractive to European tourists, with France, the UK, Germany, Russia, and Norway showing significant interest, with Russia and Norway replacing the Netherlands and Spain in the top five.
  • Emerging markets like Hungary, Turkey, and Poland have demonstrated striking growth, with increases of 320%, 288%, and 153% respectively, highlighting Vietnam's potential as a destination for European tourists.

Statistics:

  • 9,200,000 international tourists visited Vietnam in the first five months of the year (21.3% increase).
  • 1,530,000 international tourists arrived in May (10.5% increase from the previous year).
  • 2,360,000 Chinese visitors (25.7% of the total) contributed to the surge in tourism growth.
  • 1,900,000 tourists from the Republic of Korea (20.7% of the total) ranked second in the top ten markets.
  • 38,400,000,000 VND (1,470,000,000 USD) in tourism revenue for the first five months of the year (24.7% increase).

Sources:

  • Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT)
  • Agoda (online travel platform)
  • Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT)