Vietnam tourism sets twin records in international arrivals in May, first 5 months

According to data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the country received an estimated 1.8 million international arrivals in May, up 16.5 percent year on year.

This marked the highest number ever recorded for the month of May, despite the period typically being the low season for international arrivals.

For the January-May period, Vietnam welcomed 10.6 million international visitors, the highest level on record for any such period.

With this performance, the tourism industry has achieved about 42 percent of its full-year target after just five months, providing a strong foundation to reach its goal of 25 million international visitors in 2026.

Vietnam’s top 10 source markets over the past five months were China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the U.S., India, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia.

China and South Korea remained the two largest contributors, together accounting for nearly 40 percent of total international arrivals.

Russia emerged as a standout performer, climbing to third place among the source markets.

In just five months, Russian arrivals reached about 90 percent of their full-year 2019 level, before the COVID-19 pandemic, signaling a strong recovery.

Japan, while still among Vietnam’s leading markets, slipped to eighth place as growth lagged behind other top-tier sources.

Arrivals from Japan rose 11.8 percent, below the overall average growth rate of Vietnam’s international tourism.

Southeast Asia remained a key growth engine for inbound travel, with the Philippines posting the strongest increase in the region, surging 71.9 percent and climbing to ninth place among the top source markets.

Other markets in the region also recorded solid gains, including Cambodia at 40.2 percent, Indonesia at 28.7 percent, Singapore at 28.5 percent, and Malaysia at 21 percent.

India continued to lead growth in South Asia, rising 50.4 percent, underscoring its strong long-term potential.

Europe posted the strongest regional performance, expanding 54.8 percent in the first five months of this year, driven largely by Russia, which recorded a 194-percent surge, or the highest growth rate among all international markets.

Several Western and Northern European countries also posted steady gains, including Germany, France, the UK, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Poland, Switzerland, and Czechia likewise recorded solid growth, further diversifying Vietnam’s European visitor base.

Long-haul markets such as Australia and the U.S. also maintained steady growth, rising 21.2 percent and 18.8 percent respectively.

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism said the continued momentum underscores the country’s strong appeal as a destination and its ability to sustain growth in the global tourism market.

Despite ongoing geopolitical tensions, conflicts, and global economic uncertainty, Vietnam continues to be regarded as a safe destination with a stable socio-political environment, competitive costs, an expanding international flight network, and increasingly favorable visa policies, the agency noted.

These factors have strengthened the country’s competitiveness and helped expand its share of the global tourism market.