Da Nang emerges as ideal destination for Russian tourists

The central coastal city has been described as a sought-after destination for these visitors.

Flight VJ55 carrying 370 passengers from Astana, Kazakhstan landed at Da Nang International Airport in the city on Monday morning.

Organized through a partnership between Crystal Bay and VietJet Air, the flight included 250 travel industry representatives from the CIS who came to conduct tourism surveys, a strong signal of growing interest in the destination.

Over the past few years, Da Nang’s tourism agency has actively sought to diversify its international markets, with Russia emerging as a key focus.

Deputy director of the municipal Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Van Ba Son said that visitors from Russia and the CIS account for some five percent of the city’s inbound tourism.

A large number of visitors from these markets have traveled to the city thanks to its tourism promotion programs and efforts by local tour operators to attract these travelers.

Delegations from Da Nang’s tourism industry, alongside local businesses and tour operators, have traveled to Russia and other CIS countries to showcase the city’s appeal.

Da Nang has rapidly emerged as an ideal tourist attraction for visitors from Russia and the CIS, particularly when traditional destinations like Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, and Phu Quoc have become more familiar to these visitors.

Besides, geopolitical complexities affecting travel to parts of Europe have prompted Russian tourists to seek alternative destinations.

Some representatives from travel firms specializing in serving Russian visitors told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that those travelers typically have relatively high spending power, favor longer stays, and prefer upscale accommodations.

They are also drawn to wellness tourism, warm climates, scenic beaches, and destinations offering good value and reliable service – criteria that Da Nang increasingly fulfills.

In the coming months, the number of visitors from Russia and the CIS touring Da Nang and Hoi An is expected to surge, so tour operators are focusing on offering appealing tourism services and products.

Apart from the flight on Monday, seen as the start of a booming summer season for Russian and CIS travelers, another flight is set to bring some 220 visitors from Vladivostok, Russia to Da Nang City on Thursday, said a local travel firm.

Searches for Da Dang among Russian visitors skyrocket

In the first quarter of 2026, Da Nang welcomed some 2.3 million international visitors, with more than 100,000 arriving from Russia and CIS countries, around 4.35 percent of the total, according to the municipal department.

While the share remains modest, growth has been striking.

Data from Russian Internet giant Yandex indicated that online searches and interest in Da Nang among Russian users surged 260 percent in the first two months of the year compared to the same period in 2025.

Data also showed that the number of Russian and CIS travelers to the city has soared in recent years.

In 2025, Da Nang received over 171,000 Russian visitors, nearly double the figure recorded in 2024.

Russia and CIS countries are among the city’s top 15 tourist source markets.

Air routes connecting Russia and the CIS with Da Nang are set to remain open from April to October, according to the municipal department.

This year, Anex Tour plans to work with air carriers to operate 169 charter flights, bringing an estimated 23,000 visitors to Da Nang City, while Crystal Bay aims for around 400 charter flights to the central city, serving between 80,000 and 100,000 tourists.

These services will peak during the summer months, aligning with demand for beach tourism along Da Nang’s coastline.