Approximately 10.7 million foreign travelers visited Vietnam in the initial half of the year, falling short of the yearly goal by half.
Vietnam has witnessed a significant surge in international tourism in the first half of 2025, with approximately 10.7 million foreign visitors[1], marking a growth of nearly 21% compared to the same period last year[2]. This rapid increase places Vietnam among the top-ranked Asian destinations in terms of international visitor interest.
The largest share of these tourists arrived by air, nearly 9.1 million, with land and sea arrivals making up 1.4 million and a smaller fraction respectively[1]. Asia is the largest market for international tourists in Vietnam, accounting for over 78% of visitors[3].
China remained the leading market with about 2.36 million visitors, which is 25.7% of total international arrivals[4]. South Korea followed with over 1.9 million arrivals (approximately 20.7%)[4]. Additional notable markets included Taiwan (533 thousand arrivals), the United States (375 thousand), and Japan (reported but number incomplete in the data)[4].
The growing number of direct flights from other countries to Vietnam is one of the key factors fueling the country's tourism boom[5]. Arrivals from Europe have increased by 26.5% to 1.34 million[2]. Visitors from the Americas have grown by 8.6% to 582,800[3]. Unfortunately, specific city or site-level tourist destination numbers within Vietnam for the first half of 2025 were not detailed in the sources.
Vietnam's tourism growth is supported by expanded air travel routes and restored borders, adding to the destination's appeal globally, especially in Asia-Pacific where Vietnam leads in growth rates for tourist arrivals in early 2025[3]. According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Vietnam ranks among the world's top emerging tourism markets, alongside China, India, and Saudi Arabia[6].
The service sector added value in the first half of the year rose by over 8% year-on-year, marking the highest rate for the same period since 2011[7]. This growth is a testament to the positive impact of increased tourism on Vietnam's economy.
However, it's important to note that tourist numbers from Oceania have increased by 14.1% to 304,200, while arrivals from Africa have decreased by 0.3% to 25,200[8]. These fluctuations may indicate a shift in tourism patterns that warrants further investigation.
In June 2025, Vietnam received nearly 1.5 million foreign visitors, down 4% from the previous month[9]. Despite this slight decrease, the overall trend remains positive, with the number of international arrivals in Vietnam up 26% compared to 2019, a pre-pandemic high[2].
Bloomberg reported that Vietnam has emerged as the third most-visited country in Southeast Asia, with 17.5 million international visitors last year[10]. With these promising figures, Vietnam is well on its way to reaching its yearly target of 22-23 million tourists[11].
[1] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [2] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [3] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [4] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [5] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [6] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [7] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [8] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [9] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/ [10] https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/2021/01/07/vietnam-is-southeast-asia-s-fastest-growing-tourism-market-bloomberg [11] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1189142/vietnam-number-of-international-tourist-arrivals/
- Amid the growth in international tourism, artificial intelligence (AI) could play a role in managing and optimizing Vietnamese travel markets, improving the overall visitor experience.
- As travel habits adapt and change post-pandemic, it would be insightful to analyze AI data on emerging preferences and trends, guiding tourism development strategies in Vietnam.
- By leveraging AI to analyze lifestyle patterns and travel habits, Vietnam could attract a wider array of tourists, solidifying its position as a top Asian tourist destination.
