International visitors 'landing' in Vietnam at highest level ever

In 11 months, Vietnam welcomed nearly 19.2 million international visitors, breaking all records for the highest number of visitors ever. And this number is expected to increase further during the year-end period.

International visitors on the streets of Ho Chi Minh City in the last month of 2025 - Photo: QUANG DINH

Figures recently released by online travel platform Agoda on December 8 show that Vietnam is becoming a top attractive destination for international families during the year-end holiday season.

Based on search data from September to November for stays from December 2025 to January 2026, Agoda said demand for family travel to Vietnam has increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.

In December and January, South Korean visitors topped the list, followed by India, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia. Notably, searches from Indian visitors increased the most, with an increase of 186%.

Malaysia also recorded an impressive growth of 74%, affirming Vietnam’s appeal as a popular family travel destination in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Phu Quoc Island topped the list of most searched destinations for international families, with a 47% increase in searches. Da Nang followed with a 42% increase, featuring beautiful beaches, easy -to-explore activities and Ba Na Hills amusement park. Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi completed the top 5 ideal family holiday destinations in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, at a time when most Vietnamese families are less likely to choose international travel at the end of the year and prefer to wait for the Lunar New Year, China emerges as a notable exception. In the top 20 foreign destinations most searched by Vietnamese families for December and January, interest in Shanghai increased by 58% and Beijing by 59%.

According to Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam - Country Director of Agoda, this result shows that Vietnam is increasingly appreciated by families as a friendly destination, thereby affirming the country's position on the global tourism map.

Independent travel continues to dominate

This result is also consistent with the announcement of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Promotion Center earlier with the destination of Ho Chi Minh City. Accordingly, a positive picture for Ho Chi Minh City tourism in the late 2025 and early 2026 through the numbers in the Ho Chi Minh City Tourist Data Tracking System project in collaboration with The Outbox Company.

Specifically, in the eyes of international tourists, Ho Chi Minh City has a high level of awareness in the Southeast Asian, Australian and Korean markets, and is ranked among the top urban destinations, just behind Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. The forecast also noted that the intention to travel to Ho Chi Minh City increased sharply at the end of the year and in January, opening an important period for the city's international market exploitation activities.

The three pillars of tourism products including cuisine , landscape and experience all achieved similar ratings, ranging from 2.9 to 3.0 points on a scale of 5, showing that tourists have a clear awareness and positive assessment of the destination's identity.

The trend of independent travel continues to dominate, with 73.7% of tourists choosing this form, demonstrating the emphasis on flexibility and personal experience. The three most important factors influencing the decision to choose a destination include safety and security (42.6%), reasonable cost (39.1%) and favorable weather (38.5%).

Accommodation spending continues to be the most popular category. Four- to five-star hotels lead the way at 45.8%, particularly high among Chinese tourists (61.8%). Two- to three-star hotels are the second most popular choice and are most preferred by Japanese tourists (38.7%). The average length of stay is 5-7 nights, with Australian, North American and Western European tourists tending to stay longer when travelling abroad.

"At the end of the year, key markets all recorded high readiness indexes, especially near-market groups. This is the basis for businesses to proactively improve products, optimize operations and prepare for the peak season right now," the report stated.

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HAI KIM

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/khach-quoc-te-do-bo-viet-nam-cao-nhat-tu-truoc-den-nay-20251208170649984.htm