International Arrivals To Vietnam Reach An All-Time High
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Vietnam welcomed an estimated 1.8 million international visitors in May 2026, marking a 16.5% increase year-on-year. During the first five months of 2026, the country received 10.6 million international arrivals, the highest figure ever recorded for the same period.
The data was recently released by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Notably, although May is traditionally considered a low season for international tourism, Vietnam still attracted nearly 1.8 million visitors—the highest number ever recorded for the month. This achievement highlights the growing appeal of Vietnam as a travel destination and its ability to sustain strong momentum in the global tourism market.
Vietnam's Diverse Destinations Continue to Attract Global Travelers
According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainties, conflicts and economic challenges affecting global tourism, Vietnam continues to be recognized as a safe destination with a stable political and social environment, competitive travel costs, an expanding international flight network and favorable visa policies. These factors have significantly strengthened the country's competitiveness and international market share.
China and South Korea Remain the Leading Source Markets
During the first five months of 2026, the top ten source markets for Vietnam were China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the United States, India, Japan, the Philippines, and Australia. China and South Korea alone accounted for nearly 40% of total international arrivals.
Russia emerged as one of the most remarkable growth markets, climbing to the third-largest source market position. In just five months, Russian arrivals reached approximately 90% of the total volume recorded in 2019, demonstrating a strong recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodia rose to fifth place, reflecting the growing potential of regional travel demand driven by tourism, shopping, family visits and increasing business exchanges between the two countries.
Meanwhile, India maintained its impressive growth trajectory and is expected to reach one million visitors to Vietnam in 2026. Japan, while remaining among Vietnam's key markets, dropped to eighth place due to slower growth compared with other source markets. Japanese arrivals increased by 11.8% during the first five months, below the average growth rate of international visitors to Vietnam.
Strong Growth from the Philippines, Cambodia, Indonesia and Other Markets
Southeast Asia continued to be a major contributor to Vietnam's tourism growth. Visitor arrivals from the Philippines surged by 71.9%, making it the ninth-largest source market. Other markets also recorded strong growth, including Cambodia (40.2%), Indonesia (28.7%), Singapore (28.5%) and Malaysia (21%).
In South Asia, India recorded a remarkable growth rate of 50.4%, highlighting the market's significant potential for further expansion.
Discovering Vietnam from North to South – Memorable Journeys Across the Country
Europe was the fastest-growing region during the first five months of the year, with arrivals increasing by 54.8%. The primary driver was Russia, where visitor numbers soared by 194%, the highest growth rate among all international markets.
Several Western and Northern European markets also maintained positive growth, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Meanwhile, Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic also recorded notable increases, contributing to the diversification of Vietnam's European visitor base.
Long-haul markets such as Australia and the United States continued to perform strongly, growing by 21.2% and 18.8%, respectively.
Having already achieved approximately 42% of its annual target within the first five months, Vietnam's tourism industry is well-positioned to reach its goal of welcoming 25 million international visitors in 2026, contributing significantly to the country's economic growth.
Source: Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
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