Vietnam welcomes 17.7 million international visitors in nine months

Vietnam welcomed over 17.7 million international visitors during the first nine months of 2026, marking a 14.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This figure represents nearly 71% of the nation's annual target of 25 million international tourists.

China and South Korea remain the primary source markets, collectively contributing nearly 40% of total arrivals, with China leading at 3.9 million visitors (22.4%) and South Korea following with 3 million (17.3%). Russia has emerged as the third-largest market and the top European source, recording approximately 1.1 million arrivals, a significant 160.6% increase year-on-year. European markets overall saw the highest growth rate at 55%.

Air travel continues to be the dominant mode of transport, accounting for 83.2% of international arrivals. While the growth in visitor numbers is substantial, experts emphasize the need to transition from quantity to quality, focusing on increasing average daily spending and length of stay to maximize economic impact. To reach the year-end goal, Vietnam must average more than 2.4 million international visitors per month during the final quarter.