Vietnam’s tourism industry has recorded a historic surge in the first five months of 2025, welcoming over 9.2 million international visitors, a 21.3% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth reflects Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its position as one of the leading travel destinations in the Asia‑Pacific region.

A significant portion of visitors, approximately 85.2%, arrived by air, demonstrating the importance of expanding flight connectivity and international routes. Land border crossings contributed around 12.9% of total arrivals, while arrivals by sea accounted for just 1.9%. The data highlights the effectiveness of Vietnam’s efforts to streamline visa policies and improve infrastructure for international travelers.

China remains the largest source market, with roughly 2.36 million visitors during this period, accounting for 25.7% of total international arrivals. South Korea followed with approximately 1.9 million visitors (~20.7%). Other key contributors to the increase included Southeast Asian countries, such as the Philippines and Cambodia, which saw growth rates of 104.3% and 64.8%, respectively, along with a 38.3% increase from India. These figures indicate the diversification of Vietnam’s international visitor base and growing appeal across multiple markets.

Industry analysts attribute the strong performance to several factors: the expansion of direct flight routes, targeted promotional campaigns, flexible visa regulations, and the country’s emphasis on developing niche tourism segments such as cultural, eco-tourism, and wellness tourism. These initiatives have successfully attracted high-spending tourists seeking authentic Vietnamese experiences.

The surge in international arrivals has positive ripple effects for the national economy. Tourism contributes not only to accommodation, dining, and transportation sectors but also supports small and medium enterprises, local artisans, and cultural heritage programs. Authorities are cautiously optimistic that, if the current trend continues, Vietnam will meet or exceed its full-year targets for 2025, setting a solid foundation for sustainable growth in the coming years.

Source: Travel and Tour World (based on Vietnam National Administration of Tourism data), 2025 Link