New breeze from the market of former Soviet Union countries - What should Da Nang tourism do to catch the breeze?

The tourist market from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is becoming a strategic direction for Da Nang, with an expected growth of 20-30% in 2026.

As the number of international visitors to Vietnam continues to increase sharply, finding new, sustainable and high-spending markets has become a priority for many localities.

In Da Nang, the tourist market from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) bloc including Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and some Eastern European countries is emerging as a potential source of visitors, contributing to enriching the city's tourism picture.

Why is the CIS market a potential source of customers?

According to experts, tourists from CIS countries are characterized by long stays, high spending and a love of year-round beach vacations. They often choose destinations with warm, safe, friendly climates and modern infrastructure, factors that Da Nang fully meets.

Data from Yango 2025 shows that Vietnam now ranks third in Asia in terms of popularity among Russian-speaking travelers, growing 146% in the first half of the year and accounting for about 15% of total travel searches from the CIS region.

Nha Trang, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the most searched destinations. Notably, Da Nang recorded a 1,459% increase in bookings via the Yandex.Travel platform in the first nine months of the year – a figure that clearly reflects the city’s appeal.

Mr. Tan Van Vuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang city. (Photo: Thanh Phong/Vietnam+)

Speaking at the seminar "Solutions to attract CIS market to Da Nang city in the coming time", Mr. Tan Van Vuong - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang city said that in the first 9 months of 2025, Da Nang welcomed more than 14.4 million overnight guests, including 6.7 million international visitors.

He emphasized that thanks to direct charter flights and the active participation of travel businesses, the number of visitors from the CIS region is increasing rapidly, contributing to expanding the structure of the international tourist market.

Most CIS travelers take trips of 7 to 14 days, spending an average of over $2,300 per trip. About 73% of travelers plan 2–3 months in advance, often travel with family or friends, and prefer package tours.

Da Nang: A rising destination in the CIS bloc

The first passengers on the charter flight from Tashkent, Uzbekistan (CIS) to Da Nang in April 2025. (Photo: Thanh Phong/Vietnam+)

In the first 9 months of 2025 alone, Da Nang welcomed about 250,000 visitors from CIS countries, accounting for 4.17% of the total number of international visitors to the city. Of which, Russian visitors reached more than 157,000, Kazakhstan more than 91,000.

The city currently has 13 flights per week from Astana and Almaty (Kazakhstan) and two from Tashkent (Uzbekistan). By 2026, there are expected to be around 70 flights per month from 15 CIS cities, bringing around 10,000 passengers per month.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Tham – Director of Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center, the city is becoming the top destination searched on online platforms by Russian-speaking tourists. Warm climate, beautiful beaches, visa-free policy and friendly service help Da Nang create an attractive image for international tourists.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Tham - Director of Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center. (Photo: Thanh Phong/Vietnam+)

“By 2026, we aim to increase CIS visitors by 20–30%, through expanding promotions at international fairs MITT in Moscow, KITF in Almaty, organizing famtrips and digital media cooperation,” Ms. Tham shared.

Digital Platform Cooperation: CIS Customer Attracting Solution

One of the important steps to achieve this goal is the cooperation between Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center and Yango Ads Vietnam, opening a new direction in destination promotion.

The agreement allows the application of behavioral data and localized advertising technology, helping Da Nang's image appear more on search platforms, social networks and travel channels for Russian-speaking users.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Diem Thu - Development Director and Representative of Yango Ads in Vietnam, Yango is the largest advertising platform in the Yandex ecosystem, serving more than 100 million users per month. Using culturally appropriate Russian-language promotional content will help Vietnamese businesses increase their accessibility and credibility with CIS customers - a group of customers with high spending power and requiring personalized experiences.

Signing of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Yango Ads and the Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center. (Photo: Thanh Phong/Vietnam+)

From the perspective of industry management, Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh - Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism assessed the CIS market as one of the strategic opening directions in the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030.

The Department will continue to accompany localities such as Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, and Phu Quoc in building unique products, on-site promotion, roadshows, and famtrips in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while promoting air connectivity with this region.

With the combination of strengths of modern advertising technology, methodical promotion strategies and Da Nang's initiative, the CIS market is opening up prospects for sustainable growth, helping the city consolidate its position as an international tourism center of Vietnam in the coming period./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/lan-gio-moi-tu-thi-truong-cac-nuoc-lien-xo-cu-du-lich-da-nang-can-lam-gi-de-don-gio-post1071090.vnp