In total, nearly 4.7 million international visitors travelled to Viet Nam during the first two months of 2026, representing an 18.1% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The sustained growth indicates that Viet Nam’s tourism sector is maintaining strong momentum and gradually transitioning from recovery to a phase of stable growth and stronger competitiveness in the global tourism market.

Figure 1. International visitors by month (thousand of arrivals)

Source: Compiled from National Statistics Office's data

Strong Growth Across Diverse Markets

Analysis of international arrivals in the first two months of 2026 highlights the continued dominance of Asian markets, particularly those in nearby regions. Visitors from Asia reached approximately 3.4 million arrivals, accounting for 73% of total international arrivals to Viet Nam during this period.

Among them, the Republic of Korea was the largest source market, with approximately 971 thousand visitors, an increase of around 10% year-on-year. Beyond its large scale, the Korean market has maintained stable growth, reflecting the sustained appeal of Viet Nam’s beach resorts, golf tourism, and family-oriented travel experiences, supported by frequent air connections between the two countries.

China ranked second with approximately 923 thousand visitors, reaffirming its role as one of Viet Nam’s most significant tourism markets. Meanwhile, Japan and Taiwan recorded steady growth, further consolidating Northeast Asia’s position as a key source region for international visitors.

In Southeast Asia, several markets posted particularly strong growth rates. The Philippines (+72%), Singapore (+35%), Indonesia (+27%), and Malaysia (+16.5%) recorded double-digit increases compared with the same period last year. Cambodia also continued to show strong growth, rising by 95.1% year-on-year. These trends reflect the effectiveness of intra-ASEAN tourism cooperation, as well as the advantages of geographical proximity, competitive travel costs, and convenient regional connectivity.

At the same time, India is emerging as one of the most promising new markets for Viet Nam. During the first two months of 2026, Viet Nam welcomed approximately 158 thousand Indian visitors, an increase of over 71% compared with the same period last year. The rapid growth of this market reflects the success of efforts to diversify international visitor sources, particularly as direct air routes between Viet Nam and India continue to expand, tourism promotion activities intensify, and the outbound travel demand of India’s growing middle class rises steadily.

Among long-haul markets, Europe remained a major growth driver. In the first two months of 2026, Viet Nam welcomed approximately 847 thousand European visitors, representing a 67.4% increase year-on-year. Key markets such as the United Kingdom (+17.1%), France (+19.8%), and Germany (+17.5%) recorded solid growth. Notably, Russia continued to be the largest European source market, with 247 thousand visitors, marking a significant 212.5% increase compared with the same period in 2025. European visitors typically have longer stays and higher spending levels, making this market particularly valuable for the tourism sector.

The Americas also maintained steady growth, with approximately 278 thousand visitors during the first two months of the year. The United States remained among Viet Nam’s top ten source markets, with around 210 thousand visitors, up 16.3% year-on-year, while Canada recorded approximately 50 thousand visitors, an increase of 22.9%.

Meanwhile, Oceania welcomed around 130 thousand visitors, an increase of 15% compared with the same period in 2025. Australia remained the leading market in the region, with approximately 120 thousand visitors, up 14.6% year-on-year.

Overall, the strong performance across Northeast Asia, ASEAN, Europe, and other long-haul markets indicates that Viet Nam’s international tourism market is becoming increasingly diversified and balanced. This trend provides an important foundation for sustaining tourism growth throughout 2026, while strengthening the country’s competitiveness as a global tourism destination.

Figure 2. Top 10 source markets in the first two months of 2026 (thousands of arrivals)

Source: Compiled from National Statistics Office's data

Safety and Accessibility Strengthen Destination Competitiveness

Amid intensifying competition among global destinations, Viet Nam’s tourism sector is benefiting from a combination of favourable factors that enhance its attractiveness to international travellers.

First, political and social stability and a safe travel environment remain a fundamental advantage. As international travellers increasingly prioritise safe and reliable destinations, Viet Nam’s image as a friendly, stable, and welcoming country continues to strengthen market confidence and influence destination choice.

For nearby markets in Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia, travel decisions are often shaped by convenience, affordability, and safety considerations. By maintaining a stable environment and effective tourism security, Viet Nam continues to attract large numbers of visitors from these markets.

For long-haul travellers from Europe, Australia, and North America, destination choice is increasingly linked to the search for safe and stable travel environments amid global uncertainties. While some regions face security concerns or travel disruptions, Viet Nam stands out as an attractive alternative, offering high safety standards, competitive costs, and increasingly diverse tourism experiences.

At the same time, open visa policies are making travel to Viet Nam easier. The expansion of visa exemptions, longer temporary stay durations, simplified e-visa procedures, and the increase in entry points accepting e-visas have significantly improved accessibility for international visitors, particularly those from long-haul markets with higher spending potential.

Enhanced tourism promotion and marketing activities are also becoming increasingly professional and digitally driven, with stronger public-private collaboration. Partnerships with airlines, technology companies, and international tourism partners, combined with the use of digital platforms, are helping to expand market reach and enhance the visibility of Viet Nam as a destination.

Meanwhile, the country’s tourism appeal continues to be strengthened through its rich natural and cultural resources and increasingly diverse travel experiences. Key tourism segments such as beach tourism, nature-based tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, luxury resorts, green tourism, and community-based travel are being further developed to meet post-pandemic travel trends that prioritise safety, sustainability, and personalised experiences.

High service quality is also improving as tourism businesses increasingly upgrade standards, adopt digital technologies, and develop market-specific products, enhancing the overall visitor experience.

Together with continued investment in transport infrastructure and expanding international air connectivity, these factors provide a solid foundation for Viet Nam’s tourism sector to sustain growth and strengthen its position on the regional and global tourism map.

Tourism Information Technology Center