Vietnam sees 30% surge in Australian short-haul travel

According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics report, Australian travel to Vietnam grew by 30% in August 2026, reaching 45,630 resident returns. This surge led growth among international short-haul destinations.

Other regional hotspots also saw significant increases, with Fiji rising 13.7% and Indonesia growing by 11%. New Zealand experienced a 6.6% increase in Australian visitation. Conversely, travel to the United Kingdom declined by 14.3%, a trend following a previous drop in July, potentially influenced by tensions in the Middle East. The United States, Thailand, and Italy also reported slight decreases in Australian arrivals.

Overall, short-term resident returns rose by 1.5% compared to August 2025, marking a 5.9% increase over pre-pandemic levels from August 2019. Indonesia remains the most-visited nation for Australians, accounting for 18.1% of all resident returns.