The number of foreign tourists is increasing rapidly.
Most recently, during a quick Q&A session between two Hollywood stars, Pedro Pascal asked Dakota Johnson which country was her dream destination. Without hesitation, the actress replied, "Vietnam." This answer surprised Pedro Pascal, as it was also a place he longed to visit. Dakota Johnson even invited Pedro Pascal to join her.
Returning to Vietnam's tourism in recent times, we can see the country's attractiveness to international friends. In Phu Quoc, Kien Giang province, tens of thousands of foreign tourists visited in the first few months of 2025. The majority of visitors to Phu Quoc's attractive tourist destinations come from South Korea, Japan, the United States, India, and other countries. These tourists come for relaxation and leisure during holidays. Foreign tourists have helped Kien Giang province achieve a significant increase in visitor numbers right from the beginning of 2025, a 65% increase compared to the same period last year. Currently, during this year's peak summer tourist season, Kien Giang province is experiencing an "overload" of both domestic and international tourists.
Nha Trang, in Khanh Hoa province, a top tourist destination in Vietnam, is becoming a popular choice for many foreign visitors. According to data from the global travel platform Agoda, based on hotel search volume for check-ins in June and July, Nha Trang ranked number one among overseas destinations favored by South Korean tourists. International visitors have even affectionately nicknamed Nha Trang the "Naples of Vietnam," surpassing Tokyo in popularity.
In fact, Vietnam's tourism industry is becoming increasingly attractive to foreign visitors. With its beautiful beaches, vibrant and youthful cities, and delicious cuisine , the country has the potential to become a leading name in tourism development in Southeast Asia.
In recent years, Vietnam's tourism industry has undergone positive changes to compete on par with other countries around the world. For example, accommodation options at tourist destinations are becoming increasingly diverse, catering to a wide range of travelers from budget-conscious to luxury.
Furthermore, Vietnamese tourism products are constantly innovating and updating with global trends: rural tourism, experiential tourism; festival tourism; adventure tourism; ecotourism; resort tourism, etc., are all receiving significant investment from provinces and localities in terms of communication, service quality, and human resources.
A key factor in Vietnam's tourism appeal to international visitors is its visa policy. According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, visa policy plays a particularly important role in attracting international tourists. On March 7, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP on visa exemption for citizens of 12 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. This policy allows citizens of these countries to stay for 45 days from the date of entry, regardless of passport type and purpose of entry. The policy will be in effect for three years and will be reviewed for extension in accordance with Vietnamese law.
According to the General Statistics Office, in the first five months of 2025 alone, the number of international visitors to Vietnam increased significantly. Visitors arriving by air reached 7.84 million, accounting for nearly 90% of the total international visitors, a several-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024. Visitors arriving by land reached 1.18 million, accounting for 12.9% of the total, a slight increase compared to the same period last year. Visitors arriving by sea reached 175,400, accounting for 1.9% of the total, also showing an increase compared to the same period. Some potential source markets for visitors in the first five months of 2025 include China, South Korea, the United States, Japan, Taiwan (China), Cambodia, etc.
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Foreign tourists enjoy cultural experiences in Vietnam. (Source: PV) |
Creating linkages to expand potential international tourism markets.
In addition to familiar tourist markets, Vietnam's tourism industry is expanding, attracting tourists from countries with high spending power. For example, the Halal tourism market (Muslim tourism) mainly comes from countries with large Muslim populations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, India, and countries in the Middle East.
The Muslim population has now exceeded 2 billion, with 67% expected to be under 40 by 2034. This young group has high travel demand and significant spending power, opening up enormous potential for destinations worldwide. In recent years, Halal tourism has emerged as a promising target group, willing to spend substantial amounts on travel services. Halal tourism is projected to reach over $200 billion by 2025 and surpass $350 billion by 2030, becoming one of the fastest-growing segments of the global tourism industry.
Vietnam's tourism industry has great potential to attract Halal tourists for sightseeing and relaxation. Hanoi, the capital city, is leading the way with numerous partnerships with countries that have large Muslim populations.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Tran Trung Hieu, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said that in 2024, Hanoi recorded more than 650,000 visitors from these markets, accounting for about 15% of the total number of international tourists. The Indian market alone reached over 325,000 visitors, an increase of nearly 40% compared to 2023. Hanoi's tourism sector has proactively built a friendly tourism environment, meeting the diverse needs of international tourists, including specific requirements in service organization such as welcoming tourists from the Muslim community.
In reality, Halal tourism is a potential market for Vietnam's tourism industry. However, these are also high-end tourists with demanding needs. For example, issues such as food, accommodation, and conversation must be in accordance with their customs and traditions. Therefore, serving this group of tourists requires Vietnam's tourism industry to invest more systematically and meticulously to be ready to meet the needs of Halal tourists.
Not only is the Halal tourism market interested in Vietnam, but many other countries are also establishing links with our provinces and localities. For example, Khanh Hoa province recently held a tourism promotion conference in Australia, marking a strategic step in its journey to expand its international market and develop sustainable tourism. A relatively large number of Australian tourists are interested in Vietnam, especially during the summer, when people in the Southern Hemisphere are looking for places to escape the cold and relax.
In addition to the Australian market, in Thanh Hoa province, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized a conference to promote the Taiwanese (China) tourist market, with the participation of more than 40 travel agencies and media outlets from Taiwan (China), as well as Vietnamese travel agencies specializing in receiving international tourists. In recent times, tourism linkages between Thanh Hoa province and Taiwan (China) have increasingly developed and achieved many outstanding results. The tourist market from Taiwan (China) to Vietnam and vice versa is increasingly being effectively exploited by tourism businesses on both sides.
Besides collaborating with international partners to develop tourism, direct flights are becoming a "bridge" that helps more international tourists visit Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines will launch the first direct flight between Vietnam and Denmark, connecting Ho Chi Minh City directly with Copenhagen, starting on December 15, 2025. This is the first and only direct flight between the two countries to date, marking a strategic step in the airline's efforts to expand its international network and opening a new air bridge between Southeast Asia and Northern Europe.
The Nordic market is a potential area for tourism development in Vietnam, with a Vietnamese community of approximately 70,000 people living there. Furthermore, the relatively high income of people in the Nordic region makes them a high-spending segment of tourists willing to experience a diverse range of travel services.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/du-lich-viet-nam-don-dau-thi-truong-khach-quoc-te-tiem-nang-post552488.html
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