Tourism Việt Nam's Tourism Boom: Over 9.2 Million Visitors in Early 2025

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Picture courtesy of Vietnam News

 

Việt Nam's tourism sector is experiencing a substantial upswing, welcoming over 9.2 million international visitors in the first five months of 2025—a remarkable 21.3% increase from the previous year, as reported by the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism.

 

May 2025 alone saw a milestone achievement with a record 1.53 million foreign arrivals, marking the highest May figures in a decade. Although this is a 7% drop compared to April, due to the typical peak season running from October to March, it indicates Việt Nam's growing allure as a year-long tourist destination.

 

Air travel remains the primary entry mode, representing 85.2% of international arrivals, while road entries account for 12.9%. The low proportion of cruise passengers, just 1.9%, suggests significant room for growth in maritime tourism.

 

China continued to be the top source market for Việt Nam, sending 2.36 million visitors, which constitutes 25.7% of the total. This growth is supported by resumed flight routes and border reopenings. Following closely was South Korea, contributing over 1.9 million visitors (20.7%). Other leading markets included Taiwan, the United States, Japan, Cambodia, India, Australia, Malaysia, and Russia. Notably, Russia entered the top 10, becoming the leading European source market, spurred by favourable visa policies and strategic promotional efforts.

 

Việt Nam’s efforts to ease travel restrictions and revitalize flights bore fruit with significant growth from Japan (+18.3%) and China (+47.2%). The country’s unilateral visa exemptions have also boosted visitors from Europe, including the UK (+19.5%), France (+19.8%), Germany (+16.1%), Italy (+24.7%), Spain (+10.3%), Denmark (+10.9%), Sweden (+15.1%), and Norway (+14.3%).

 

On the domestic front, May recorded 14 million domestic travellers, including 9 million who stayed overnight. From January to May, domestic tourism reached an impressive 61.5 million, boosting tourism revenue to an estimated VNĐ38.4 trillion (US$1.47 billion), reflecting a 24.7% year-on-year increase. Major cities and provinces showing significant gains include HCM City (+30.4%), Đồng Nai (+29.1%), Lào Cai (+24.4%), Hà Nội (+22.0%), and Đà Nẵng (+19.9%).

 

Globally, Việt Nam ranks among the top five most-searched Asian destinations for summer 2025 on Agoda, based on accommodation searches in April for July–August holidays. Following countries like Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand, Việt Nam's vibrant cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and enhanced direct flight connectivity with Europe have spurred its popularity.

 

Among European travellers, France, the UK, Germany, Russia, and Norway lead in search volumes, with Russia and Norway overtaking the Netherlands and Spain due to direct flights and visa exemptions. Emerging markets such as Hungary (+320%), Turkey (+288%), and Poland (+153%) also show promising growth.

 

Key attractions for international visitors include Đà Nẵng, HCM City, and Hà Nội, which offer a unique blend of natural beauty, cultural richness, and bustling city life. Simplified visa procedures, effective promotional campaigns, and tourism-related events have further contributed to this success.

 

Looking forward, Việt Nam's tourism authority plans to conduct promotional roadshows in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Germany later in June, aiming to expand its European visitor base further and reach a 2025 target of welcoming 22–23 million international travellers.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Vietnam News 2025-06-09