International Arrivals To Vietnam Hit New Record In 2025, Up Over 20 Pct

HANOI, Jan 6 (Bernama-VNA) -- Vietnam’s tourism sector marked a milestone year in 2025, with international arrivals reaching nearly 21.2 million, up more than 20.4 per cent from 2024 and the highest level on record, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

The surge in visitor numbers and tourism revenue made a significant contribution to growth in the services sector and the broader economy.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), more than two million international visitors arrived in December alone, up 15.7 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), pushing total arrivals for the year to a new high. Compared with 2019, the pre-COVID-19 benchmark, international arrivals rose by 17.8 per cent.

A report by the National Statistics Office showed that Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 8.02 per cent in 2025. The services sector grew by 8.62 per cent, accounting for 51.08 per cent of total value added.

Buoyant trade and tourism activities, with international arrivals at an all-time high, played a key role in driving services growth. Revenue from accommodation and catering services was estimated at 843.1 trillion VND (US$32 billion), up 14.6 per cent, while travel services revenue reached 93.9 trillion VND, an increase of 20.2 per cent.

VNAT Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh said welcoming nearly 21.2 million international visitors in 2025 marked a new breakthrough in Vietnam’s tourism development, enhancing the country’s position and brand on the global tourism map.

While global international arrivals increased by only about five per cent, Vietnam far outpaced the average, ranking among the world’s fastest-growing destinations alongside Japan. This performance provides a solid foundation for the sector’s target of attracting 25 million international visitors in 2026.

In terms of entry modes, arrivals by air exceeded 17.8 million, accounting for more than 84.3 per cent of the total, underscoring the pivotal role of aviation and Vietnam’s expanding international connectivity. Arrivals by land and sea also posted positive growth of between 10 per cent and over 20 per cent.

By source markets, Asia remained Vietnam’s largest contributor, accounting for 78.6 per cent of total international arrivals with 16.6 million visitors, followed by Europe with 2.8 million, then Oceania and Africa.

China continued to lead with more than 5.3 million visitors, accounting for about 25 per cent of total international arrivals, followed by South Korea (RoK), Taiwan, the United States, Japan, India, Russia, Cambodia, Malaysia and Australia. These markets recorded steady growth, supporting the diversification of Vietnam’s international visitor base.

Large Asian markets remained the main growth drivers in 2025. Arrivals from China surged by 41.3 per cent compared with 2024, Japan increased by 14.4 per cent, and India jumped by 48.9 per cent, while arrivals from the RoK edged down by 5.2 per cent.

Neighbouring Southeast Asian markets continued to expand strongly, notably the Philippines (up 81.3 per cent), Cambodia 44.8 per cent, Laos 20.6 per cent, Malaysia 15.8 per cent, Singapore 15.5 per cent, Indonesia 12.5 per cent and Thailand 9.5 per cent.

Europe recorded particularly robust growth of 38.8 per cent y-o-y, with many markets posting double-digit increases. Russia emerged as the largest European source market, with 690,000 visitors, up 196.9 per cent.

-- BERNAMA-VNA