Vietnamese tourists will experience tourism in Thailand in mid-June 2025 - Photo: QT
In the first five months of 2025, only over 300,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Thailand. This cautious sentiment is further amplified by the fact that some Vietnamese airlines have reduced flight frequencies to avoid financial risks.
Tours are still running smoothly despite the slowdown.
Ms. Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy General Director of Vietravel , said that 5-day, 4-night tours to Thailand are still being organized regularly by businesses, but the frequency has decreased compared to the usual peak season.
"Instead of 4-6 groups per day as before, there are now only 1-2 groups per day due to the political situation in Thailand and Cambodia. However, tourists are still going, and there have been no mass tour cancellations," Ms. Hoang shared.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Tourism Company, said that summer is always the peak season for outbound tourism, especially to the Thai market.
"On average, our company has about 4-6 groups of Vietnamese tourists traveling to Thailand each month, with each group consisting of about 30 people. Although the political situation is somewhat unstable, there have been no official warnings, airlines are still operating, and demand remains high, so we are still offering tours with a variety of itineraries," Mr. Thanh said.
However, Mr. Thanh also noted that before the departure date, the company will update customers and tour guides on the situation to ensure absolute safety throughout the trip.
For independent travelers, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Tham from Go Vap district (Ho Chi Minh City) shared that she remains quite confident after learning about the situation in Thailand and still decided to visit her friend at the end of June "because she feels safe, the flight is close, and shopping is easy."
According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, tours to Thailand are currently quite regular. Businesses are selling Thailand tours with itineraries of about 5 days and 4 nights, departing in June, July, August, etc., at various attractive prices, ranging from nearly 5 to under 9 million VND, depending on the quality of service such as meals, hotels, and the number of sightseeing points.
Businesses report that Thailand remains a top destination favored by Vietnamese tourists for holidays or summer vacations. Reasons include a wide range of activities and affordable costs, visa-free entry, short flight distances, familiar destinations, and ease of independent travel.
Vietnamese airlines cut flights to Thailand.
In contrast to the bustling tourism scene, Vietnamese airlines are cautiously adjusting the frequency of flights to Thailand. From the second quarter of 2025, Vietjet has reduced the number of flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok from 4 to 3 flights per day.
Vietnam Airlines and Vietravel Airlines have also taken similar action. Notably, Bamboo Airways, which operates the Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) route with a frequency of one round-trip flight per day, has temporarily suspended displaying this route on its online booking system.
A commercial executive at an airline said that the market for flights to Thailand is no longer as vibrant as before. Flight occupancy rates sometimes drop to as low as 60%, while fuel, personnel, and service costs remain high. This situation makes operating flights at a loss unavoidable.
Furthermore, intense competition on this route further thins the profit margins of airlines. Within the same timeframe, passengers can choose between Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines, and a host of Thai airlines such as Thai Airways, AirAsia, Thai VietJet, etc.
With multiple airlines operating on the same route, price pressure is inevitable. For example, if you fly Vietjet from Tan Son Nhat to Suvarnabhumi Airport in mid-July, the cheapest tickets available range from 1.2 to 1.4 million VND/one-way (including taxes and fees), which is even cheaper than domestic flights to Da Nang or Hanoi.
This price is considered "unprecedentedly cheap" compared to the period of 2022-2023, when the market had just reopened after the pandemic.
In particular, with the peak domestic season approaching, and strong demand for flights to destinations such as Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang, airlines are prioritizing domestic flights to optimize fleet efficiency and profitability.
"We are willing to sacrifice international slots in the short term, because when the market recovers, we can reapply for them. This is a temporary measure to balance our finances," a representative of the airline shared.
Thailand's tourism industry accounts for approximately 13% of the national GDP and provides employment for one-fifth of the country's workforce - Photo: REUTERS
The outlook depends on many factors.
Although the number of tourists visiting Thailand remains stable thanks to attractive prices, factors such as security instability, tensions in the Thai-Cambodian border region, and the resurgence of the pandemic have made some tourists more hesitant.
A representative from Bamboo Airways stated that the airline is currently restructuring its operations, including routes to Thailand. According to the airline, the possibility of reducing flight frequency depends on factors such as customer demand, sentiment, and geopolitical risks affecting tourism trends in Thailand.
Since mid-May, the tense situation at the Cambodia-Thailand border has led to stricter controls at some border crossings. In addition, concerns about domestic security and a resurgence of the pandemic have also contributed to Vietnamese tourists being more cautious when choosing Thailand as a destination.
"Previously, Bangkok was the first choice. Now, many travelers are considering Singapore, Taiwan, or simply domestic destinations like Nha Trang and Da Nang, where airlines can quickly rotate their fleets and optimize efficiency," a travel expert commented.
Tourists visiting Thailand are guaranteed safety.
Thailand, especially its capital Bangkok, is one of the most popular international destinations for Vietnamese tourists, with frequent flights from domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in 2024, Thailand welcomed 984,248 tourists from Vietnam, accounting for approximately 2.77% of the total number of international visitors, ranking 11th among the largest source markets.
However, in the first five months of 2025, only over 300,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Thailand. According to the 2024 tourist behavior survey conducted by TAT, the activities most favored by Vietnamese tourists when visiting Thailand include cuisine, visiting historical sites, experiencing nightlife, massage and spa treatments, and beach and sea activities.
Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper, Ms. Supakan Yodchun, TAT representative in Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed that the Thai government and all parties, including the public and private sectors, prioritize the safety and well-being of Thai citizens and international tourists.
"The current situation in major tourist areas remains stable, with no impact on travel or tourist experiences, except for some specific restricted border areas, and does not affect tourist destinations in general," said Supakan Yodchun.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-lich-thai-bot-hap-dan-khach-viet-20250625082226863.htm
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