Record high international visitors
The number of international visitors to Vietnam in March reached more than 2.05 million; an increase of nearly 29% over the same period in 2024. In the first quarter, Vietnam welcomed more than 6 million international visitors, an increase of nearly 30% over the same period last year.
This is an unprecedented record, an increase of 134% over the same period in 2019 (the peak period of Vietnam's tourism before COVID-19), bringing in a total revenue of VND242,000 billion from tourism.
The main growth driver of the Vietnamese tourism industry comes from the largest tourist market, China, with an increase of 78.3% over the same period last year. Meanwhile, other major markets increased positively: Korea (+2.2%), Taiwan (China) (+10.2%), the US (+11.3%), Japan (+26.3%), Australia (11.0%), India (23.3%).
In addition, the Polish and Swiss markets also recorded an increase in the number of visitors, up 52.9% and 14.1% respectively over the same period in 2024. This is the result of the Government's issuance of Resolution 11/NQ-CP on short-term visa exemption for Polish, Czech and Swiss citizens from January 1 to December 31, 2025 under the 2025 Tourism Development stimulus Program.
The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said that the tourism industry is focusing on implementing a stimulus program in 2025, innovating promotion, advertising and improving service quality to realize the goal of welcoming 22-23 million international visitors this year.
A positive start for the local tourism industry
According to statistics from the tourism departments across the country, Ho Chi Minh City is the most welcoming place for tourists in the first 3 months of the year. The total number of customers reached 10.1 million, including 1.6 million international visitors. Revenue from the tourism industry amounted to 56,662 billion dong (up 26.7% over the same period in 2024).
The capital Hanoi welcomed 7.3 million visitors, including 1.85 million international visitors (up 17.4%). Total revenue from the tourism industry is estimated at nearly VND29,930 billion (up 11.3%).
Next are other famous tourist provinces and cities that welcome many visitors such as Quang Ninh (5.7 million), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (4.5 million), Binh Dinh (3.2 million), Kien Giang (3.1 million)...
This is a favorable momentum for tourism in provinces and cities to make a breakthrough in the coming time, especially when the whole country is about to enter the long holiday of 30.4/9.5 and the peak summer tourism season.
In 2025, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2025), Ho Chi Minh City will organize large-scale parades, parades, combined with cannon fighting, helicopter shows, fighters and fireworks in many places...
Many travel businesses believe that this year's April 30 holiday will see an explosion in the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry, with the number of tours to the city increasing rapidly from the first days of April.
Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism - Le Truong Hien Hoa information, the city tourism industry has completed the plan to serve the number of explosive visitors during the 5 holidays 30.4 - 1.5. Expectations of "terrible" revenue in 5 days of vacation, continuing the revenue of 7,690 billion dong, leading the whole country on the Lunar New Year.
