Vietnam surpasses Thailand to become top destination for Chinese tourists

Vietnam aims to welcome 25 million international visitors this year, far surpassing its pre-pandemic record, with a surge in Chinese arrivals serving as a driver.

Meanwhile, global market research firm BMI, owned by Fitch Solutions, forecasts the figure to be 22 million. BMI said the number of tourists in 2025 will surpass the previous record of 18 million, set in 2019, helping Vietnam's tourism-related industries almost fully recover from the damage caused by the pandemic.

One important reason is that Vietnam remains stable, in contrast to other countries in the region, where, for example, the Thai-Cambodian border dispute remains unresolved and the effects of protests in Indonesia are still lingering more than two months after they erupted.

Foreign tourists inside Han market, Da Nang

PHOTO: NH

The Vietnamese government has also helped by extending visa exemptions for 12 countries. Tourists come here to enjoy the cuisine, learn about the country's war history, visit emerald islands and explore the world's largest cave.

"Vietnam is emerging as a popular destination for Chinese tourists," BMI deputy director Brandon Msimanga told Nikkei Asia , saying Vietnam has now surpassed Thailand as the top choice for mainland tourists. "Chinese tourists are avoiding traveling to Thailand due to safety concerns. In addition, Chinese consumers are becoming more cautious in their spending, and Vietnam's tourism industry is benefiting from its proximity to China in the region."

Vietnam has overtaken Thailand to become the top destination for Chinese tourists, a shift fueled by an influx of independent Chinese travelers.

As of October, Vietnam had attracted 17 million visitors, led by 4 million from China, according to the General Statistics Office. The shift from Thailand to Vietnam was also fueled by the kidnapping of a Chinese actor in Thailand in January 2025. Visitor numbers to the Kingdom have dropped sharply this year.

Foreign tourists have also been drawn to the many films and music videos showcasing Vietnam’s culture and landscapes, from Netflix’s “A Tourist’s Guide to Love” and Bollywood’s “Love in Vietnam” to viral YouTube videos by Vietnamese singers. Major domestic corporations such as Saigontourist and Vingroup’s Vinpearl have sought to tap into the country’s growing popularity, especially with Sun Group launching its own airline this month to focus on the island destination of Phu Quoc.

Over the past 10 months, the number of international visitors to Thailand has decreased by 7.23%. This has led to a 4.53% decrease in revenue from the international market. Particularly from the Chinese market, Thailand welcomed 3.8 million visitors, a decrease of about 30% compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, in the first 10 months, international visitors to Vietnam increased by 21.5% compared to the same period in 2024; Chinese visitors led with nearly 4.4 million arrivals, up 43%, officially surpassing Thailand.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/viet-nam-vuot-thai-lan-tro-thanh-diem-den-hang-dau-cua-khach-trung-quoc-18525111011295036.htm