Viet Nam welcomes 8.8 million foreign visitors in January-April period
VGP - Viet Nam welcomed a new record of 8.8 million foreign arrivals in the first four months this year, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.
With the above figure, the tourism sector has already achieved 35 percent of its preset goal of attracting 25 million international visitors in 2026.
In the reviewed period, the top 10 source markets for Viet Nam included China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the US, India, Japan, Australia and the Philippines.
These markets accounted for 72 percent of total international arrivals, with China and South Korea alone contributing 39.8 percent.
Europe emerged as the fastest-growing source market, with Russia standing out for its remarkable surge of nearly 300 percent compared to the same period last year.
The strong recovery of direct flights, combined with growing demand for long-stay resort travel and Viet Nam's competitive advantages in safety, convenience, natural conditions and cost, has positioned the Southeast Asian nation as a leading destination for Russian tourists in Asia.
According to the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, the structure of international markets is shifting toward greater diversity and sustainability, with the emergence of new high-potential markets.
This transformation provides a solid foundation for maintaining stable growth and enhancing the sector's resilience against global fluctuations.
To materialize the preset goal of 25 million visitors in 2026, experts suggest that open visa policies should be maintained in a stable and effective manner.
They also suggested Viet Nam expand international air routes, particularly through launching direct flights to key markets such as the U.S. and Europe, and developing "national-scale products" with strong appeal—such as international fireworks festivals or major global sports./.
