Staggering surge in foreign tourist arrivals recorded in Vietnam during May
Travelers leave their mark in Hội An as Vietnam records a staggering influx of international visitors in May, breaking 10-year records, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
With more than 1.53 million visitors in May alone, this statistic outshines numbers from previous years, including a 10.9% surge compared to 2024 and a 11.7% boost compared to the golden time of Vietnam's tourism in 2019.
Despite the tourism peak season having already ended, this towering number proves that Vietnam might be on the path to becoming a year-round destination for travelers, as opposed to the seasonal draw it was in the past.
On the whole, 9.2 million international visitors touched down in Vietnam from January to May, marking a whopping 21.4% increase compared to the same period last year, plus a 15% hike compared to 2019.
Of those arrivals, air travel still dominated with an astonishing 7.4 million visitors in the first five months. Meanwhile, road travel reached nearly 1.2 million, and the remainder came by sea.
Among the top international tourist markets, Mainland China seals the top spot, followed by South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Japan. The Russian market, however, climbed the ranks with a jaw-dropping 221% increase, followed by the Philippines with over 200%, Cambodia at over 160%, and India at over 134%.
These impressive numbers were fueled by advantageous visa policies, engaging tourism promotions, and a myriad of activities to celebrate nationwide holidays, as stated by the Office.
On the horizon for 2025, Vietnam sets its sights on welcoming at least 22 million visitors, targeting a substantial increase of more than 20% compared to the impressive showing of 2019 (18 million).
On a broader scale, China remained the largest source market for international tourism in Vietnam during the first five months of 2025, with 2.36 million visitors. South Korea followed suit with 1.9 million visitors, while Taiwan, the U.S., and Japan rounded out the top five with 532,000, 375,000, and 342,000 visitors, respectively [1][2][4]. The impressive bounceback in international tourism for Vietnam aligns with the restored flight routes, border reopenings, and favorable visa policies, as well as boosted promotional efforts [4].
Visitors travel around Hội An. May saw a record number of international tourists visiting Việt Nam. Photo tienphong,vn
In the horizon for 2025, Vietnam plans to leverage AI and digital transformation to enhance the travel experience, aiming to attract an estimated 22 million visitors, marking a significant increase of over 20% compared to the impressive showing of 2019. The thriving lifestyle sector, including hotels and businesses catering to travelers, is anticipating growth as Vietnam aims to become a year-round destination for travelers from diverse markets such as Mainland China, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States, and Japan, withExpectedly, the increased influx of travelers will leave a lasting impression on popular tourist destinations like Hội An.
