Foreign arrivals up nearly 37% in January

Of the figure, 1.8 million arrived by air, accounting for 86.8 percent of the total, marking a 39.6 percent increase year-on-year. 

Around 228,400 people arrived by road, making up 11 percent and a 29.1 percent increase while the rest came to Viet Nam by by sea.

January saw a significant growth of Chinese visitors, with nearly 575,000 arrivals, an increase of 48.2 percent compared to the previous month and a year-on-year rise of 137.4 percent.

China also surpassed South Korea to become Viet Nam's largest source of tourists in the first month of 2025. 

In addition, inbound tourism increased sharply from other markets such as Cambodia (up 64.2 percent), Japan (30.2 percent), Russia (49 percent), Italy (39.8 percent), Denmark (41.5 percent), United Kingdom (25.6 percent), France (15.3 percent), Germany (19.3 percent), the Netherlands (20.6 percent), Switzerland (18 percent) and Poland (20.6 percent), the U.S. (25.5 percent), Canada (35.5 percent), and Australia (30 percent).

Favorable visa policies and stronger tourism promotion programs along with increasingly high prestige have all contributed to drawing more foreign visitors to the Southeast Asian country.

Regarding visa, the Government decided to issue e-visa to citizens from 80 countries since July 1, 2020.

These countries are: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ireland, Iceland, Austria, Poland, Belarus, Belgium, Portugal, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, United Arab Emirates, Kazakhstan, Canada, Qatar, Germany, Chile, Colombia, India, Czech Republic, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Croatia, Cuba, Denmark, Cyprus, Timor Leste, Estonia, Georgia, Republic of Korea, United States of America, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Russia, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Micronesia, Malta, Macedonia, Mexico, Myanmar, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Palau, Panama, Finland, France, Fiji, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Salomons Islands, Romania, Western Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, China (including Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR passport holders, not apply to Chinese e-passport holders), Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Visitors with e-visas can enter Viet Nam at eight international airports, or arrive via land at 16 international border gates and via sea at 13 ports across the country.

The Government unilaterally offers visa exemption for citizens of 13 countries: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Belarus. Citizens from these countries could stay in Viet Nam for upto 45 days instead of 15 days since their entry, regardless of passport type or purpose of entry if they meet entry requirements in line with Viet Nam law.

Viet Nam will also waives visa requirements for citizens from Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland from March 1 to December 31, 2025.

Also in 2024, Viet Nam was recognized by the World Travel Awards as "Asia's Leading Destination," "Asia's Leading Heritage Destination," and "Asia's Leading Nature Destination".

The Government targets to attract 22-23 million international tourists this year, surpassing the pre-pandemic levels./.