UN Tourism ranks Vietnam among the world’s strongest post-pandemic rebounders as foreign arrivals surge past pre-COVID levels and revenue accelerates across major cities.
Vietnam’s tourism industry has officially roared past its pre-pandemic benchmark. The country welcomed 19.15 million international visitors in the first 11 months of 2025, a jump of 20.9% year-on-year and higher than the previous record of 18 million arrivals. November alone brought in 1.98 million visitors, the third-highest monthly total of the year.
A new UN Tourism report highlighted Vietnam as one of the world’s standout recovery stories, noting that while Asia–Pacific tourism has recovered to just 90% of pre-COVID levels, Vietnam — alongside Japan — is among a rare group achieving rapid, sustained, above-trend growth.
Tourism revenue surges across major cities
Accommodation and dining revenue reached 767 trillion VND (29 billion USD) in the first 11 months, up 14.6%, with strong increases in Ho Chi Minh City (+17.3%), Da Nang (+15.8%), Hanoi (+13.4%), Can Tho (+12.2%) and Hai Phong (+11.6%).
Travel and tourism revenue rose even faster — up 19.9%, driven by new tourism products, stimulus programs, and major cultural and sports events. Hanoi (+23.4%), HCMC (+22.3%) and Quang Ninh (+18.2%) were among the top performers.
China and South Korea dominate arrivals — Russia becomes fastest-growing European market
China remained Vietnam’s largest source market with 4.8 million arrivals, followed by South Korea (3.9 million). Taiwan, the U.S. and Japan rounded out the top five. Meanwhile, European markets surged thanks to relaxed visa rules, with the UK (+20.7%), France (+21.4%) and Germany (+16.6%) showing strong momentum.
A standout performer was Russia, with arrivals soaring 190.9% to 593,000, making it Vietnam’s largest and fastest-growing European source market.
Vietnam’s performance signals more than a tourism recovery — it underscores the country’s growing appeal as a global destination, its policy success in visa liberalization, and its rising competitiveness in Asia’s travel economy. With momentum building into 2026, Vietnam is positioning itself as one of the region’s most resilient and dynamic tourism powerhouses.
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Source: Vietnam Insider