During the nine-day Tet holiday alone, the province welcomed more than 1.1 million visitors, including an estimated 248,000 international arrivals, reaffirming its position as one of Vietnam’s leading tourism hubs.
Vietnam’s tourism sector recorded a strong surge during the nine-day 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, welcoming an estimated 14 million visitors — up 12% year on year — with Ho Chi Minh City leading the nation in both arrivals and revenue.
During the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, Vietnam's tourism sector served an estimated 14 million visitors, up 12% year-on-year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Ta Xua cloud haven in the northern province of Son La, with its largely untouched landscapes and minimal commercial development, is the only destination from Vietnam to be featured on the list of 26 must-visit global destinations for 2026 released by India’s New Delhi Television.
Vietnam welcomed nearly 21.2 million foreign arrivals in 2025, marking a stellar 20.4% increase from 2024 and surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 19%.
Market research reports indicate that Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector still has large room for growth if the special mechanisms under Resolution 98, Resolution 260 and Resolution 62/2025/NQ-HDND on incentives for attracting MICE visitors are effectively implemented. These policies are considered practical, helping enhance competitiveness, service quality and the city’s standing as a destination.
The Hanoi Department of Tourism has issued a directive requesting localities, tourism units, businesses and individuals across the city to review and improve service quality, develop new tourism products tailored to visitor demand and tastes, and strengthen safety and security measures during the holiday period.
In recent years, Vietnam’s tourism industry has made strong strides in expanding market scale and increasing arrivals. Closing 2025 with a record nearly 21.2 million international visitors and 137 million domestic tourist visits, the sector entered 2026 with positive momentum.
At the heart of the programme is a riverside camping area along the Ca Lo River, combined with visits to key local attractions, immersive experiences of traditional rituals and folk games in a festive setting, as well as agricultural tourism and creative activities that promote environmental protection.
The digital travel platform Agoda recently reported that Sa Pa was the fastest-growing destination in Asia in 2025, reflecting the rising level of interest among international visitors in Vietnam’s culturally rich highland town.
Reiterating the sector’s target of serving 25 million international visitors and 150 million domestic holidaymakers this year, Chinh highlighted the importance of a fundamental shift from a “recovery mindset” to one focused on growth, competitiveness and sustainability.
New Delhi Television describes Ta Xua as Vietnam’s “cloud-hunting paradise”, best known for the so-called “dinosaur spine” – a trekking route that has been widely shared among travel enthusiasts for years.
In 2025, Da Nang implemented targeted promotion campaigns to attract Muslim travellers from Indonesia, Malaysia, CIS countries and the Middle East, welcoming more than 617,000 visitors from these markets, supported by newly opened direct and charter air routes.
In its future development strategy, Ninh Binh identifies tourism and cultural industries as spearhead economic sectors, aiming to develop them in a green, creative, and sustainable manner.
If Vietnam wants to improve its standing, it must adopt a long-term, in-depth and flexible promotion strategy, especially as those on tourism brand and product development are set to expire by the end of this year.
As part of its annual year-end tradition, Traveller - the travel section of The Sydney Morning Herald published a list of the world’s most compelling destinations. In its latest ranking of the “14 island and beach destinations to visit now,” Phu Quoc was the only representative from Vietnam, joining renowned coastal destinations such as Okinawa (Japan) and Cap-Ferrat (France).
Vietnam’s tourism industry has continued to shine at prestigious international awards. At the World Travel Awards 2025 — often dubbed the “Oscars of global tourism” — Vietnam was honoured in 16 top-tier global categories.
International arrivals to Vietnam reached 19.15 million in January–November 2025, up 20.9% year-on-year. In November alone, the country welcomed nearly 1.98 million visitors – the highest monthly figure ever recorded.
Following strong demand from the Republic of Korea, India, and Russia, Phu Quoc is now welcoming a new wave of international visitors from Eastern Europe toward the end of this year. Favourable visa policies, outstanding natural beauty, and an expanding portfolio of world class entertainment experiences continue to position Phu Quoc as one of Vietnam’s most attractive destinations for global travellers.
The sector aims to attract 25 million international visitors, serve 150 million domestic tourists, and earn some 1.12 quadrillion VND in revenue in 2026.