Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam hosted more than 9.2 million international tourists in the first five months of the year, rising by 21.3% against the same time of 2024, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).
The majority of international visitors, 85.2%, arrived by air, underscoring aviation's role as the primary gateway to Vietnam. Land border crossings accounted for 12.9% of arrivals while sea travel made up 1.9%.
Despite Vietnam's long coastline and well-developed port infrastructure, maritime tourism still represents a significant untapped opportunity for future growth, the VNAT said.
China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market, contributing 2.36 million visitors, or 25.7% of the total. The 47.2% surge in Chinese visitors reflected the success of the border reopening policy and the restoration of direct flight connections between the two nations. The Republic of Korea ranked second with over 1.9 million tourists arrivals, equivalent to 20.7%.
Rounding out the top ten markets were China’s Taiwan (533,000), the US (375,000), Japan (342,000), Cambodia (325,000), India (272,000), Australia (241,000), Malaysia (221,000), and Russia (210,000). In May alone, Vietnam welcomed 1.53 million international tourists, up 10.5% from a year earlier. Travel companies said that this figure was not low as the peak travel period of international visitors had already passed, and it even set a May record in 10 years, indicating that the country is becoming a year-round destination, not just a seasonal one like it was in the past.
Meanwhile, 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 fifth among the most searched Asian destinations by European travellers for summer 2025, trailing only Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand. The rankings are based on April searches for July–August trips.
An Agoda representative said Vietnam has strongly impressed foreigners with its diverse natural landscapes, rich cultural characteristics, and convenient connectivity with numerous direct flights from Europe.
France, the UK, Germany, Russia, and Norway have the most travel interest. The inclusion of Russia and Norway, replacing the Netherlands and Spain, in the top five reflects the effect of Vietnam’s visa exemption policy and growing air connectivity, according to the VNAT.
Vietnam also recorded striking growth from emerging markets like Hungary (320%), Turkey (288%), and Poland (153%), demonstrating its rising profile as an attractive destination for European tourists.
Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi, boasting stunning landscapes, cultural heritage, and urban vibrancy, provide diverse exploration experiences that appeal to various traveller preferences.
The tourism sector is pushing ahead its tourism promotion events, aiming to deliver on the goal of welcoming 22–23 million foreign visitors this year, the VNAT added./.
