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Chinese tourists enjoying themselves in Ho Chi Minh City in October 2024. Photo: Linh Huynh . |
Vietnam is projected to record a record number of international visitors in 2025, thanks to the strong return of Chinese tourists and increasingly open visa policies, according to Bloomberg .
According to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Vietnam expects to welcome over 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, a 20.4% increase compared to 2024. This figure surpasses the peak of 18 million visitors in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
Vietnam's growth reflects a notable shift in Southeast Asia's multi-billion dollar tourism industry, as Thailand, once considered the region's largest tourism hub, shows signs of declining appeal.
China continues to be Vietnam's largest source market for tourists, with 5.3 million arrivals, accounting for approximately one-quarter of the total international visitors. This figure is higher than the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand, which is projected to reach around 4.5 million in 2025.
| TOP 10 SOURCE MARKETS FOR VIETNAM IN 2025 | |||||||||||
| Source: General Statistics Office | |||||||||||
| Label | China | Korea | Taiwan | America | Japan | India | Russia | Cambodia | Malaysia | Australia | |
| Number of visitors | Thousand views | 5282 | 4331 | 1232 | 849 | 814 | 746 | 690 | 687 | 574 | 548 |
According to Bloomberg , the number of Chinese tourists visiting Thailand has decreased following the kidnapping of an actor and concerns related to border conflicts.
According to a report by the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports , the country is expected to welcome 32.9 million international tourists in 2025, a decrease of 7.23% compared to the previous year. Revenue from international tourism is also projected to decrease by 4.71%, to approximately 1.53 trillion baht.
In terms of Thailand's source markets, Malaysia continues to lead with approximately 4.5 million visitors, followed by China (4.4 million), India (2.4 million), Russia (1.8 million), and South Korea (1.5 million).
Although still playing a key role, many major markets have not recovered as expected, reflecting the cautious sentiment of tourists after a series of disruptions, from border conflicts in the region, cross-border scams involving Cambodia, to earthquakes, natural disasters and increasingly fierce competition among Southeast Asian destinations.
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Chinese tourists wearing traditional Thai clothing visit Wat Arun temple in Bangkok. Photo: Reuters . |
In contrast to the cautious picture in Thailand, Vietnam is stepping up measures to stimulate tourism, including a policy of granting 45-day visa exemptions to citizens of certain developed economies .
As a result, the European market recorded strong growth, with visitors from Poland increasing by 43%, and tourists from the UK, France, and Italy all increasing by around 20%. The Russian market alone saw a remarkable increase of 197%.
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Vietnam is currently among the fastest-growing destinations in the world, along with Brazil, Egypt, Japan, and Ethiopia. The report indicates that visitor numbers to these markets have exceeded 2019 levels.
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Tourists gather in large numbers in Bangkok's Chinatown, Thailand. Photo: Reuters. |
Entering 2026, Vietnam aims to welcome 25 million international tourists and achieve revenue exceeding 1.1 trillion VND .
Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) said the country expects to increase total tourism revenue in 2026 to approximately 2.78 trillion baht, equivalent to a 7% growth rate.
The country's strategy focuses on diversifying markets, extending the length of stay, and developing high-value-added tourism products to solidify its position as one of the region's leading destinations.
Source: https://znews.vn/viet-nam-thang-thai-lan-post1617243.html
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