Vietnam Sees Significant Growth in Tourism During Lunar New Year 2025

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, has reported a robust growth in tourism during the Lunar New Year (Tết) 2025. The holiday period saw approximately 12.5 million domestic tourists, marking a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The influx of international tourists also surged by about 30%, driven by effective visa policies and successful promotional strategies implemented by local areas. Popular destinations such as Quảng Ninh, Đà Nẵng, Quảng Nam, Hanoi, HCM City, Kiên Giang, and Huế reported a substantial rise in international arrivals.

During the nine-day Tết holiday, HCM City led the list with an estimated 2.1 million visitors, generating a tourism revenue of approximately VNĐ7.69 trillion (US$304 million), a 17.4% increase from 2024. Hanoi followed with around one million visitors and an estimated revenue of VNĐ3.53 trillion, reflecting a 7.85% growth.

International tourist arrivals in Vietnam showed particularly strong growth, with around 142,000 visitors, a 15.8% increase compared to 2024. The majority of these visitors came from countries such as China, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan, the US, the UK, Malaysia, India, Germany, France, and Japan.

Other destinations also saw significant tourist traffic, including Quảng Ninh with 969,000 visitors, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu with 869,433 visitors, and Khánh Hòa with 825,195 visitors.

Record-High Tourism Revenue

The tourism industry not only saw an increase in visitor numbers but also reported record-breaking revenue growth across multiple local areas. In 2024, only HCM City, Hanoi, and Đà Nẵng exceeded VNĐ1 trillion (US$39.4 million) in tourism revenue. However, in 2025, eight localities surpassed this milestone, with five new provinces joining the list, including Khánh Hòa, Kiên Giang, Quảng Ninh, Lào Cai, and Ninh Bình.

HCM City remained the top performer with tourism revenues of VNĐ7.69 trillion, followed by Hanoi at VNĐ3.53 trillion. Quảng Ninh saw a remarkable surge in revenue, reaching VNĐ2.66 trillion (US$105 million), while Đà Nẵng earned VNĐ1.88 trillion (US$74.2 million). Kiên Giang experienced a nearly 50% increase in revenue, reaching VNĐ1.88 trillion (US$74.2 million), driven by significant international tourist arrivals in Phú Quốc.

Khánh Hòa’s total revenue reached VNĐ1.35 trillion (US$53.3 million), marking a 41% increase from 2024, while Lào Cai earned VNĐ1.34 trillion (US$52.9 million), reflecting a 49% growth. Ninh Bình’s revenue was estimated at VNĐ1 trillion (US$39.4 million), a 20% increase from the previous year.

Increased Transportation Services

To accommodate the heightened travel demand during Tết, airlines added more flights, including additional night flights. Domestic airlines provided an estimated 6.9 million seats, a 4% increase from the previous year. Cruise tourism also experienced remarkable growth, with Đà Nẵng welcoming approximately 1,800 international tourists from the Crystal Symphony and Silver Dawn cruise ships. Quảng Ninh saw four large cruise ships carrying a total of 6,000 passengers and 4,000 crew members.

Railway tourism also saw a rise, with new routes launched for Hà Nội – Lào Cai, Quảng Bình, and HCM City – Nha Trang, Huế, and Đà Nẵng. Vietnam Railways introduced the ‘Spring Train’ offering unique experiences such as New Year’s Eve countdown parties, traditional games, and special Tết cuisine. Additional trains were scheduled to meet travel demand.

High Hotel Occupancy and Stable Pricing

Tourist accommodations were well-prepared for the Tết holiday season, with high room occupancy rates in key destinations. Sa Pa (Lào Cai) saw occupancy rates of 90-95%, while Kiên Giang reached 73.4%. Other areas, including HCM City, Huế, Phú Yên, and Đà Nẵng, reported strong occupancy, ranging from 50% to 65%.

Hotel room rates saw a moderate increase of 5-10%, with no reports of overbooking, price gouging, or violations of listed prices.

Overall, the Lunar New Year 2025 marked a successful period for Vietnam’s tourism industry, highlighting the country’s growing appeal to both domestic and international visitors.