Vietnam breaks all-time record for international arrivals
DNO - Vietnam has set a new tourism milestone after welcoming nearly 19.2 million international visitors in the first 11 months of the year, surpassing all previous records for foreign arrivals.
According to data released by the General Statistics Office on Monday, international arrivals in November reached 1.98 million, marking a 14% increase from October and nearly 16% higher than the same period last year.
Total foreign arrivals from January to November climbed to 19.15 million, up 21% year-on-year and exceeding the 18 million visitor record set in 2019, before the pandemic.
The General Statistics Office attributed the robust performance to more liberal visa policies, expanded destination marketing campaigns, and a series of large-scale events hosted across major localities this year.
China remained Vietnam’s largest source market, contributing nearly 4.8 million visitors in the first 11 months, or close to 40% of the total. South Korea ranked second with more than 3.9 million arrivals.
Overall, Northeast Asia continues to be Vietnam’s strongest feeder region, with four key markets: mainland China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan (China), collectively accounting for 76% of total international arrivals, equivalent to roughly 10.5 million visitors.
Other major source markets included the United States, India, Cambodia, Russia, Malaysia, Australia, and the Philippines.
In terms of growth momentum, Russia recorded the sharpest increase in 2025, with an estimated 592,000 arrivals, up 290% from the same period last year.
Several other markets also posted strong double-digit growth, including China, the Philippines, Laos, Cambodia and India, each rising between 30% and 40% year-on-year.
Vietnam’s tourism industry has set an ambitious target for 2025, attracting 25 million international visitors, a 42% increase from the 17.6 million recorded in 2024.