Vietnam receives 2.36 million Chinese tourists in Jan–May

International arrivals to Vietnam during the period reached more than 9.2 million, with South Korea and Taiwan ranking second and third, respectively. 

Other key source markets included the United States, Japan, Cambodia, India, Australia, and Malaysia.

Russia ranked among the top 10 source markets with 210,000 visitors, making it Vietnam's largest European market.

Vietnam recorded over 1.5 million international arrivals in May alone – the highest number for the month of May in the past decade.

Tourism professionals attributed the strong performance to relaxed visa policies, destination marketing efforts, and improvements in service quality.

"May is typically not peak season, so welcoming more than 1.5 million international visitors reflects the effectiveness of recent policy changes and shifting travel trends," said Bui Thanh Tu, chief marketing officer of BestPrice, a local travel agency.

BestPrice reported a nearly 20-percent year-on-year increase in international bookings in January–May, driven by core markets such as Australia, the United States, Japan, Germany, and a recent rise in visitors from Poland and Switzerland.

Spanish-speaking markets including Mexico, Chile, and Spain also showed growth, supported by digital marketing and customized tour offerings.

Total revenue from accommodation and food services in the five-month period was estimated at VND340 trillion (US$13 billion), while revenue from travel services reached VND38.4 trillion ($1.5 billion), according to official data.

Several provinces and cities saw significant growth in tourism revenue compared to the same period last year, with Ho Chi Minh City up 30.4 percent, followed by Dong Nai Province, Lao Cai Province, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

Vietnam aims to attract 22 to 23 million international visitors in 2025, about 20 percent higher than in 2019, the year before the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While the target appears within reach, experts say the country should also focus on increasing visitor spending rather than only counting arrivals.