Vietnam Sets Ambitious Target of 23 Million International Tourists in 2025
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam is aiming to attract 22 to 23 million international visitors this year, reinforcing its commitment to making tourism a cornerstone of economic growth. This ambitious target follows a remarkable recovery in 2024, when the country welcomed 17.5 million international visitors, achieving 98% of pre-pandemic levels recorded in 2019.
Vietnam’s recovery rate outpaced regional competitors such as Thailand (88%) and Singapore (86%), making it the fastest-recovering tourism market in Southeast Asia. Experts, however, caution against overconfidence, highlighting economic challenges and natural disasters as potential obstacles.
Despite adversities, Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) reported that the country’s tourism sector saw an extraordinary jump from 12.6 million international arrivals in 2023 to 17.5 million in 2024. Việt Nam is now ranked third in Southeast Asia for international arrivals, surpassing Singapore’s 16.5 million visitors, and trailing only Thailand (35 million) and Malaysia (24.5 million).
Tourism Boom and Policy Reforms
Domestic tourism also flourished, with 110 million local travelers contributing approximately VNĐ 840 trillion (US$33.34 billion) to the economy. Phú Quốc, in particular, emerged as a top international travel destination, with accommodation searches soaring by 266%, driven by a 94% surge in South Korean visitors and a 123% rise in Chinese Taipei arrivals.
Nguyễn Trùng Khánh, Director General of VNAT, described this surge as “the dawn of a new era” for the industry. He credited policy shifts in August 2023, including extended visa-free stays (from 15 to 45 days for 13 countries) and the expansion of e-visa access to all nationalities across 13 airports, 13 seaports, and 16 land border crossings. Additionally, e-visa validity was extended from 30 to 90 days, with multiple entry privileges.
With these advancements, Vietnam is poised to cement itself as a premier travel destination in Asia.
