Vietnam Welcomes Nearly 10.7 Million International Visitors in First Half of 2025

Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam received nearly 10.7 million international tourist arrivals in the first six months of 2025, marking a significant increase of 21 per cent compared to the same period last year, and a 26 per cent rise over 2019 — considered the ‘golden era’ of Vietnamese tourism before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to newly released data from the General Statistics Office.

In June alone, the country welcomed approximately 1.5 million foreign visitors, representing a slight decrease of 4 per cent compared to May.

The six-month figure accounts for nearly 49 per cent of the annual target of 22–23 million international visitors. Officials emphasized that the high season for inbound tourism in Vietnam traditionally falls between October and March, suggesting stronger performance ahead.

Air travel continues to dominate as the primary mode of arrival, with more than 9 million visitors arriving by air — representing over 85 per cent of total foreign arrivals and an increase of 22.7 per cent year-on-year. Arrivals by land reached nearly 1.4 million, while the remainder travelled by sea.

Asia remained Vietnam’s largest source market, accounting for over 8.41 million arrivals — or more than 78 per cent of the total — with a 21.1 per cent increase year-on-year. European arrivals surged 26.5 per cent to 1.34 million, while the number of visitors from the Americas climbed 8.6 per cent to 582,800. Tourists from Oceania reached 304,200, up 14.1 per cent, while arrivals from Africa saw a slight decline of 0.3 per cent to 25,200.

Northeast Asia alone contributed 60 per cent of total international arrivals in the first half of the year. Chinese visitors topped the list with more than 2.7 million arrivals, followed by South Korea with 2.2 million. Other leading source markets included Japan, Taiwan (China), the United States, and India.

Outbound tourism also witnessed remarkable growth, with more than 4 million Vietnamese travelling abroad in the past six months — an increase of nearly 54 per cent compared to the same period in 2024.

“Transport and tourism activities have surged to meet consumer demand both regionally and globally, making a positive contribution to economic growth. The value added by the service sector in the first half of the year rose by over 8 per cent year-on-year — the highest rate for the same period since 2011,” noted the General Statistics Office.

A report by global consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG) listed Vietnam among the world’s top emerging tourism markets, alongside China, India, and Saudi Arabia — fast catching up with traditional tourism giants such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany.

Meanwhile, the May 2025 edition of the World Tourism Barometer published by the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) placed Vietnam sixth globally in terms of international arrivals growth in the first quarter of this year — up 30 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. In the Asia–Pacific region, Vietnam ranked first, ahead of Japan and the Republic of Palau.

According to Bloomberg, Vietnam emerged as the third most-visited country in Southeast Asia in 2024, attracting 17.5 million international visitors. The country surpassed Singapore and trailed only Malaysia (25 million) and Thailand (35 million).

Experts attribute Vietnam’s tourism boom to the growing number of direct international flights, improved infrastructure, and proactive promotion strategies — positioning the country as a premier destination in Asia’s competitive tourism landscape.