In the first 6 months of 2026, Vietnamese tourism recorded positive signs. According to data from the Statistics Department (Ministry of Finance), the number of international visitors to our country reached nearly 12.3 million, an increase of 14.9% compared to the same period last year.
Besides the increase in quantity, the tourism trend of international visitors also has many changes when increasingly prioritizing cultural, culinary and indigenous life experiences at destinations.
Coming to Vietnam for the first time, Ms. Connie (a tourist from Scotland), said she will spend about 3 weeks exploring many localities. Among them, Hanoi is her first stop before continuing her journey to Ha Giang, Ninh Binh, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City.
Coming to Vietnam, besides sightseeing, I want to enjoy Vietnamese cuisine such as local dishes and drinks and experience the daily life of the people," Ms. Connie shared.
Having had the opportunity to come to Vietnam about 10 years ago, Mr. Robert (a tourist from Germany), decided to return with his family to explore more new destinations.
10 years ago when I came to Vietnam, I mainly visited the Southern region, especially the Mekong Delta. This time, I and my family will start in Hanoi, then go to Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City. We want to enjoy many Vietnamese dishes, learn about culture and explore nature," Mr. Robert said.
According to Mr. Bui Thanh Tu - Marketing Director of BestPrice Travel Company - the number of international visitors is forecast to continue to increase sharply in the last months of the year, especially from September - the peak season of many visitor markets.
In the last 6 months of the year, the number of international visitors may increase by one and a half, even double compared to the beginning of the year. To catch up with this trend, businesses have proactively worked with partners such as airlines, hotels and restaurants to prepare service supply, build products suitable to the needs of tourists, and at the same time reserve places early to ensure competitive prices," Mr. Tu said.
With the current growth momentum, businesses expect the tourism market to continue to be vibrant in the coming time. According to Mr. Tu, the increase in international visitors not only creates momentum for market recovery but also opens up opportunities for businesses to develop more products, meeting the increasingly diverse needs of tourists.
