Vietnam welcomes its 20 millionth international visitor, setting a new record for the first time in 65 years.

On the afternoon of December 15th, at Phu Quoc International Airport, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) coordinated with the People's Committee of An Giang province to hold a ceremony welcoming the 20 millionth international tourist to Vietnam. This marks the first time in the 65-year history of Vietnam's tourism industry that it has reached the milestone of 20 million international visitors in a single year.

The special guest – the 20 millionth international visitor – was Ms. Karolina Agnieszka from Poland. Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented flowers to welcome the international guests, and also announced and presented certificates and souvenirs.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong affirmed that this is a testament to the efforts, innovative spirit, and progress of the entire Vietnamese tourism industry. "This milestone is even more significant as it was achieved in the context of global tourism having just gone through an unprecedented difficult period due to the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.

international guests.jpg — Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong (in black shirt) congratulates the 20 millionth international visitor to Vietnam this year. Photo: Tran Cong Dat

According to Deputy Minister Ho An Phong, since Vietnam fully reopened its tourism sector on March 15, 2022, the industry has recovered and grown continuously: in 2023, it welcomed 12.6 million international visitors; in 2024, it reached 17.6 million; and in 2025, it is expected to welcome over 21 million visitors, far exceeding the 18 million visitors of 2019 - the period before the pandemic.

With a growth rate of approximately 21%, Vietnam's tourism sector is considered by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) to be among the fastest-growing in the world. Meanwhile, the global average growth rate in 2025 is only about 5%, the Asia- Pacific region is projected at 8%, and global tourism has only recovered to about 90% of pre-pandemic levels.

According to the Deputy Minister, choosing Phu Quoc as the venue for welcoming the 20 millionth international tourist is highly significant because it is not only a typical island and coastal tourism center of Vietnam, but also a locality with strong resources, modern infrastructure, and the full capacity to organize national and international events, leading up to APEC 2027.

Vietnam's 20 millionth female international tourist will receive gifts worth nearly 500 million VND (including a high-end pearl necklace, round-trip business class air tickets, a stay at a 5-star hotel, Michelin-starred culinary experience vouchers, golf, a cruise exploring the southern part of Phu Quoc Island, and priority access to entertainment services).

The 19,999,999th and 20,000,001st special international visitors, both Polish, also received gifts worth over 200 million VND each.

According to Resolution 226/NQ-CP dated August 5, 2025, the Government has tasked the tourism industry with striving to welcome 25 million international visitors and 150 million domestic visitors this year. Previously, the industry's target was 22-23 million international visitors and 120-130 million domestic visitors.

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