According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in the first 10 months of 2024, there were more than 14.1 million international visitors to Vietnam, an increase of 41.3% over the same period last year. In October 2024 alone, Vietnam welcomed 1.42 million international visitors.
Asia contributes nearly 80% of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam. The four major markets in Northeast Asia, including China, South Korea, Taiwan (China), and Japan, contribute nearly 60%.
Major markets in Northeast Asia are the main drivers of international visitor growth. In particular, the Chinese market increased by 130.4% year-on-year in 2023, followed by South Korea by 28.5%, Japan by 24.8%, and Taiwan (China) by 59.4%.
Nearby markets in Southeast Asia grew well, including Indonesia (+85.5%), the Philippines (+64.5%), Laos (+13.9%), Cambodia (+12.1%), Malaysia (+5.5%), and Singapore (+4.7%). India continued to grow well (up (+29.1%). The Thai market alone decreased by 13.3%.
European markets grew positively, including major markets such as the UK (up 20.4%), France (up 30.5%), and Germany (up 23.6%).
In addition, there are Italy (up 54.5%), Spain (up 23.3%), Russia (up 81.5%), Denmark (up 21.7%), Norway (up 16.2%), Sweden (up 24.9%). These are all markets that enjoy a unilateral visa exemption policy for entry into Vietnam with a temporary stay of up to 45 days.
Notably, in October 2024, markets in Europe tended to increase compared to September 2024, including Russia up 7%, UK up 44%, France up 64%, Germany up 42%.
Vietnam National Administration of Tourism believes that with the motivation from the open visa policy, along with the vibrant promotion and advertising activities in the last months of the year, the number of international visitors to Vietnam is expected to continue to grow positively in the coming time.
In particular, in the last months of the year, the Vietnamese tourism industry actively implemented communication and promotional activities to promote domestic and international tourism on the national tourism website and social networking sites.
Recently, from November 5 to November 7, the tourism industry participated in the WTM London 2024 International Tourism Fair - the world's largest and most prestigious international tourism fair, estimated to welcome 40,000 tourism experts. The Vietnamese delegation organized a joint booth with an area of 150m2 with the presence of a number of key tourism localities and leading tourism corporations and businesses in Vietnam.
Also from the beginning of November, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism presided over the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the Department of International Cooperation, the Tourism Development Support Fund and the Chongqing City Culture and Tourism Development Committee (China) coordinated to organize the Vietnam Culture - Tourism Festival in China.
Within the framework of the Program, tourism agencies of the two countries, corporations, tourism and transportation enterprises of Vietnam and Chinese partners signed and exchanged 08 Memorandums of Understanding on cooperation to promote two-way tourist attraction and exchange in the coming time.
The activity will create momentum to restore the Chinese market - Vietnam's largest source market, accounting for about 30% of the total number of international visitors to Vietnam before COVID-19. In 2019, Vietnam welcomed more than 5.8 million Chinese tourists; in 2023, it will welcome 1.75 million Chinese tourists. In the first 10 months of the year, Vietnam welcomed more than 3 million Chinese visitors.
