Nikkei Asia: Vietnam welcomes 'golden wave' of Chinese tourists

Vietnam is emerging as a top destination for international tourists, especially Chinese tourists, with the number of visitors in 2025 forecast to far exceed the record before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Nikkei Asia.

Coffee shops on the railway street in Hanoi - Photo: AFP

Recovery surpasses pre-pandemic milestone

Japan's Nikkei Asia newspaper cited a forecast by British multinational research company BMI, a unit of Fitch Solutions, showing that Vietnam could welcome more than 22 million international visitors this year, while the government's target is 25 million.

This figure far exceeds the 18 million recorded in 2019, marking the near-complete recovery of Vietnam's tourism industry after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Political stability is considered a major advantage that helps Vietnam shine in the region, in the context of the prolonged Thai-Cambodian border conflict and protests in Indonesia that have not subsided.

The Vietnamese government has also contributed to growth by extending visa exemptions to 12 countries, while promoting popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Phu Quoc Island and Son Doong Cave - the world's largest cave.

“Vietnam is becoming the top choice for Chinese tourists, surpassing Thailand,” said Brandon Msimanga, Regional Director of BMI.

The reason comes from concerns about tourism safety in Thailand after the kidnapping of a Chinese actor in early 2025, along with the trend of more economical travel among Chinese consumers.

By the end of October, Vietnam had welcomed 17 million visitors, including 4 million Chinese visitors, according to the General Statistics Office. Meanwhile, the number of visitors to Thailand during the same period had dropped sharply.

Domestic retail growth

The tourism boom has also led to domestic retail growth. In the first eight months of the year, retail sales increased by 6.7% compared to the same period in 2024, while tourism revenue increased by 48.4%.

BMI said Vietnam's retail sales have almost returned to pre-pandemic levels, although the impact of inflation remains.

Vietnam's image continues to spread strongly through movies and music, with works such as A Tourist's Guide to Love (Netflix), Love in Vietnam (Bollywood) and many music products reaching millions of views on the YouTube platform.

Vietnamese domestic tourism corporations also quickly seized the opportunity, expanding operations and investing in aviation and resorts.

However, the tourism industry still faces challenges after a boat capsized in Ha Long Bay last July, killing at least 38 people in the midst of a major storm.

In the same year, a series of important events such as the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025), and the trade agreement with US President Donald Trump contributed to bringing Vietnam back to the center of international attention.

UYEN PHUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nikkei-asia-viet-nam-don-con-song-vang-du-khach-trung-quoc-20251107110906874.htm