Vietnam’s tourism industry witnessed an unprecedented milestone in the first five months of 2025, welcoming over 9.2 million international tourists, marking a 21.3% year-on-year growth. This surge was largely fueled by rising arrivals from China, India, and Southeast Asia. Air connectivity expansion, relaxed visa rules, and global campaigns have transformed Vietnam into one of Asia’s most attractive destinations. In May alone, Vietnam recorded 1.53 million foreign visitors, a 10.5% increase from the same month in 2024.
Air travel dominated with 85.2% of tourists arriving by air between January and May. Land and sea entries accounted for 12.9% and 1.9%, respectively. China led arrivals with 2.36 million visitors, followed by South Korea (1.9 million), while India (272,000) showed a 38.3% increase. Strong momentum was also seen from Taiwan, the US, Japan, and Cambodia. Russia reemerged as the leading European market, with a 121.1% year-on-year surge.
Several Southeast Asian markets posted robust growth, notably the Philippines (104.3%), Cambodia (64.8%), and Laos (39.8%), signaling the strength of regional travel. In Europe, countries under Vietnam’s visa waiver program such as France, the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain continued to contribute significantly. Special attention was drawn to Poland (44.5%) and Switzerland (10.7%), which benefited from short-term visa exemptions.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) is actively building global visibility. It launched campaigns in France, Italy, Switzerland, and the Cannes Film Festival, and will continue in Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. With favorable policies, strong demand, and increasing flight access, Vietnam is expected to maintain its upward trend through 2025.
