Russian tourists flock back to Vietnam

The most anticipated "reunion"

Since the beginning of the year, Khanh Hoa tourism industry has continuously received good news when it has continuously welcomed charter flights from the land of white birch, bringing tens of thousands of Russian tourists to Nha Trang.

The resumption of direct flights from Russia has contributed to bringing many Russian tourists to Vietnam.

PHOTO: BA DUY

According to information from the National Tourism Administration, in 2024, Vietnam's tourism industry will welcome more than 232,300 Russian visitors, an increase of 84.9% compared to 2023. In the first two months of 2025 alone, Vietnam welcomed nearly 80,000 Russian tourists, an increase of 204% compared to the same period in 2024. Russia is currently the number one market among European countries sending tourists to Vietnam.

Russian tourists are very open-minded, using most tourism products, especially health care services such as mud baths, they go mud baths every day. Russians also travel for a long time, each trip lasts about 5-7 days, some stay 1-2 months. Therefore, the return of Russian tourists promises to help Nha Trang in particular and Khanh Hoa in general create a new boost for tourism and economy after the pandemic.

Mr. NGUYEN VAN THANH (former Vice President of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association)

For Nha Trang tourism, these are the most anticipated reunions; because before the pandemic, this was the market that accounted for more than 70% of the total number of international visitors to the coastal city. Even when it first opened after the pandemic, Russian visitors were the first foreign visitors to "break ground", warming up Nha Trang tourism.

However, since the conflict in Ukraine, the number of Russian tourists has dropped sharply. Destinations and tourist areas have also been deserted by European tourists enjoying the warm sunshine in the blue water. Therefore, since the end of March until now, when the beaches have gradually filled up, packed with Russian families and couples coming to swim, sunbathe and have fun, not only the tourism industry but also the people of Khanh Hoa and Vietnamese tourists are extremely excited.

"In the middle of last year, I took my sister to Nha Trang for the university entrance exam, the roads were still very deserted. Walking along the beach in the afternoon, there were mainly locals exercising, and there were very few tourists. It was completely different from nearly 10 years ago when I first came to Nha Trang for tourism, I saw foreign tourists everywhere, and people speaking Russian and Chinese everywhere. In my impression, Nha Trang is a paradise for Russian tourists. Therefore, when I went to Nha Trang for work at the end of March, I saw Russian tourists "surrounding" the beach in the midday sun, even though I was not a local, I was happy. I felt that tourism had really recovered, and the economy was about to pick up again," said Ms. Thuy Quynh (from Phu Yen).

Sharing the same sentiment, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, former Vice President of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, said that the image of charter flights bringing Russian tourists to Cam Ranh airport made him relive the feeling about 15 years ago, when Khanh Hoa started to "catch the eye" of Russians. At that time, Nha Trang was not yet in the top destinations of the country, just starting to exploit its tourism potential. Every week, Pegas Turistik travel agency organizes 9 flights bringing tourists from the Russian Far East to Cam Ranh airport; of which 70% of tourists stay in Nha Trang, 30% go to Phan Thiet.

Russian tourists at that time were very satisfied with the quality of tourism services in Nha Trang and considered this to be a tourist paradise in the future. Indeed, since then, Russian tourists have continuously come to Nha Trang. By connecting flights and expanding promotions, Russia has not only become a key market accounting for more than 70% of foreign visitors to Nha Trang but also contributed to changing the face of the entire tourism industry in Khanh Hoa. Many overseas Vietnamese in Russia have returned home to invest in Nha Trang, building quality hotels along the beach, and at the same time upgrading the quality of tourism services to a new level.

Russian tourists flock to Vietnam, covering the beaches in Nha Trang

PHOTO: BA DUY

Russian tourists flock to Vietnam, covering the beaches in Nha Trang

PHOTO: BA DUY

"In the recent period, Korean tourists replaced Russian tourists, but the characteristic of Korean tourists traveling on closed tours, rarely experiencing services outside the tour, so they have not really penetrated the tourism industry. On the contrary, Russian tourists are very open, using most tourism products, especially health care services such as mud baths, they go mud baths every day. Russian tourists also travel for a long time, each trip lasts about 5-7 days, some people stay for 1-2 months. Therefore, the return of Russian tourists promises to help Nha Trang in particular and Khanh Hoa in general create a new boost for tourism and economy after the pandemic", Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh acknowledged.

According to information from the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the increase in direct flights in recent times has boosted the Russian tourist market to recover strongly. In the coming time, the number of Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa will increase sharply; it is expected that in April there will be 50 - 55 flights/month, from July to the end of 2025 it will increase to 90 - 100 flights/month.

Russian tourists are no longer just "crazy" about the sea

Not only Khanh Hoa, after the pandemic, Phu Quoc has become one of the most attractive destinations in Vietnam for Russian tourists. Although charter flights from Russia to Phu Quoc have not been piloted, most Russian tourists come to Phu Quoc through charter flights with transit from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, but Phu Quoc is still receiving this type of tourist very well. According to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism, in 2024, Phu Quoc welcomed about 47,000 Russian tourists; but in the first 2 months of 2025 alone, this number reached 27,000.

The resumption of direct flights from Russia has contributed to bringing many Russian tourists to Vietnam.

PHOTO: BA DUY

According to Mr. Cung Quynh Anh, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it is estimated that in the first quarter of 2025, Khanh Hoa tourism industry will welcome about 49,100 Russian visitors, an increase of 110.74% over the same period in 2024. In an effort to promote this market, a working delegation of Khanh Hoa province has just visited and worked in the Russian Federation and successfully organized a tourism promotion conference in Moscow. The delegation also had two important working sessions with Aeroflot airline and Anex Tour Moscow Office. The working trip has brought many positive results in promoting the reopening of direct flights and attracting Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa province.

Restoring direct flights from Russia to Cam Ranh helps diversify international tourist sources, reduce dependence on certain markets, and aim to achieve the goal of welcoming 11.8 million visitors, including 5.2 million international visitors, with tourism revenue reaching VND60,000 billion in 2025.

Ba Duy

Thanks to favorable weather conditions, the number of Russian tourists to Phu Quoc is expected to grow strongly if a direct flight is put into operation. Therefore, as soon as there was information about the plan to open a direct flight from Russia to Phu Quoc, units and businesses in Phu Quoc were busy preparing conditions and services to serve visitors from the land of white birch in the near future.

Notably, not only the clear blue water beaches and bright yellow sunshine have the advantage of welcoming Russian tourists to avoid the crowds as before, the capital Hanoi is strongly promoting this market with the support of aviation, when Vietnam Airlines plans to operate regular flights between Moscow and Hanoi from next May. Consul General of the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City Timur Sadykov also expressed hope that the flights will boost tourism, not only equal to but surpass the level before the Covid-19 pandemic, and contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.

At a recent working session with the Hanoi Department of Tourism on two-way tourist exchange activities between Hanoi and travel agencies in the Far East (Russian Federation), Vice President of the Eurasian Business Association Malinovskii Roman informed that recently, Russian and CIS tourists (including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) searching for information about Vietnam tourism has increased by 35%. In particular, cities such as Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat and Da Nang have received a 130% increase in searches. "This result shows that with its natural beauty, pleasant tropical weather and many unique experiences, Vietnam is surpassing many other destinations in Asia," said Mr. Malinovskii Roman.

The Association of Russian Tour Operators (ATOR) added that the wave of Russian tourists to Vietnam increased dramatically not only in the fall and winter, but also during the May and summer holidays. The head of the association, Maya Lomidze, assessed that there were many factors converging for this increase, such as pent-up demand for many years, the resumption of direct flights between the two sides and the appreciation of the ruble.

"According to our estimates, Vietnam will definitely be in the top 10 summer destinations for Russians, maybe even the top 5," said Ms. Maya Lomidze.

Connecting products from the sea to the city, attracting customers to stay longer

Statistics from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that although Russians do not travel very often, they spend quite a lot, about 2,000 USD/person for a trip, of which 610 USD is spent on non-tour expenses, 40% higher than the average spending of tourists from other countries. The fact that Russian tourists choose Vietnam as a destination to experience nature and culture is expected to create a large source of revenue for Vietnam tourism in the coming time.

Russian tourists visit Nha Trang in early April

PHOTO: BA DUY

Russian tourists return to Mui Ne

Russian tourists experience many interesting activities on Mui Ne beach

PHOTO: QUE HA

According to Mr. Tran Van Binh, Vice President of Binh Thuan Tourism Association, Russian tourists are returning to the same number of tourists as before the Covid-19 pandemic. Once one of the "capitals" welcoming Russian tourists, in recent years, the Mui Ne tourism market has been deserted due to the impact of the Ukraine conflict; at the same time, they cannot fly directly, but must go through intermediaries.

"Currently, there are a series of direct flights to Cam Ranh carrying Russian tourists, many of whom go back to Mui Ne or Nha Trang. I see that there are Russian tourists who have not returned to Mui Ne for 10 years," said Mr. Binh.

To meet the demand of returning Russian tourists, Mr. Binh said that Binh Thuan tourism industry, especially facilities in Mui Ne National Tourist Area, need to prepare well the infrastructure, services, and products to satisfy international tourists, including Russian tourists.

"Russian tourists also have many segments, they go to many destinations with beaches but especially love Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Phu Quoc... because they like sea sports. Mui Ne is a place with many sea sports tourism products that Russians love. According to my forecast, the number of Russian tourists this year will increase even more than before the Covid-19 pandemic. Hopefully this year, Binh Thuan tourism industry will win big", Mr. Tran Van Binh commented.

Cinnamon

However, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh noted that in this return, the travel needs of Russians will also change a lot. After a period of conflict and many economic and political instabilities, Russians will have the need to find places that bring a sense of peace, truly relaxing. They will be willing to spend money on high-class resort experiences, but the value must be corresponding.

According to Mr. Thanh, there is no need to worry too much about accommodation facilities. For example, in Khanh Hoa, with about 60,000 rooms according to statistics (not to mention the large number of condotels, bungalows...), it is possible to receive double or even triple the current number of Russian visitors. In addition, Vietnam's infrastructure has also changed a lot, many connecting highways create advantages in connecting, extending the beaches from Khanh Hoa to Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, running to Ho Chi Minh City. This will be a very good condition for localities and tourism businesses to be creative, design new tours and routes to create diverse experiences for tourists, making the trip longer. Along with that, services must be better prepared, more classy, focusing on upgrading entertainment venues, shopping areas, health care... so that tourists spend more.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Tourism Association is also cooperating with three localities, Hanoi, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen, to build tours combining cultural tourism and resort tourism to diversify products for Russian tourists in particular and international tourists to Vietnam in general. Hanoi's advantage is having a system of 5-star hotels, possessing a unique culture for tourists to experience and soon having direct flights to Russia; while Phu Yen and Binh Dinh have beautiful beaches, meeting the needs of tourists for beach resorts... In order to encourage attracting "big customers" from the land of birch trees, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh tourism have committed to reducing service prices by 20-30% for Russian tourist groups.