The Chinese market returns
This is a new record of Vietnam's tourism industry, surpassing nearly 2 million international visitors in January 2020.
China has returned to the number 1 market of Vietnam tourism with 575,000 times, accounting for 27.7%, according to the General Statistics Office. This figure is much higher than the same period in January 2019 (reaching 373,500 times), up 54%.
South Korea is ranked 2nd, reaching 417,000 times (accounting for 20.1%). Cambodia ranked third (100,000 times), the US ranked fourth (93,000 times), Taiwan (China) ranked 5th (91,000 times). Next are Japan, Australia, India, Malaysia and Thailand.
According to the National Tourism Department of Vietnam, the impressive recovery speed of the Chinese market thanks to a series of activities connecting the market, strengthening cooperation for tourists between authorities and geography. Phuong, businesses of Vietnam and China.
Besides, the rise of the Cambodian market is also a highlight. In 2024, there were 475,000 visitors from Cambodia, in January 2025, there were about 100,000 visitors from this market, bringing Cambodia from the 9th place to the 3rd place in the top 10 leading markets.
According to the travel enterprises, Cambodian tourists often come to Vietnam to cure. However, there are not many products designed for this segment in Vietnam, most of the customers go on their own. International Tourism Manager of a leading travel company in Phnom Penh assessed that Vietnam is always the No. 1 destination in the hearts of Cambodian tourists.
Motivation of growth from visa policy
In January 2025, the tourism industry continued to record positive growth from European markets exempted from unilateral men's visas, including Russia, England, France, Germany ... followed by Italy, Spain , Denmark, Norway, Sweden.
The growth from these markets continues to show high efficiency from the temporary shelter to be shown from 15 days to 45 days for 13 countries to be exempted from a unilateral men's visa under the Government's Resolution 128/NQ-CP.
According to the National Tourism Department of Vietnam, to achieve this figure, the prominent mark is the advisory work of building institutions and policies. The National Tourism Department of Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has submitted to the Government and the Prime Minister promulgating documents and resolutions to create favorable conditions for tourism to develop. Along with that is an effort to innovate and promote tourism in both markets, content, methods, scale, good exploitation of public -private cooperation mechanisms, positive participation of localities, Hiep Association, business.
Developing new products suitable to the potential of the country and the needs, tastes of tourists after translation, such as agricultural tourism, railway tourism, night tourism, health care, resort ... The communication work on the basis continues to be promoted to contribute to spreading the tourism brand, attracting international tourists to Vietnam.
In the Government meeting in January 2025 on 5.2, Member of the Politburo and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that services and tourism were an important growth motivation. The Prime Minister evaluated Vietnam's tourism recovery in 2024, creating a development foundation in 2025. The Prime Minister directed to improve tourism products, supplement solutions to attract international visitors, including the policy of marketing It is more favorable, considering a visa exemption for some groups of tourists.
