Vietnam posts record tourism growth in 2025

Vietnam welcomed nearly 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, registering a 20.4 per cent year-on-year increase and exceeding 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 19 per cent, according to official data. This is reported by VNA, a partner of TV BRICS.

Figures released by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism show that the country significantly outperformed global trends. While international tourism grew by an estimated 4 per cent worldwide and 6 per cent across the Asia-Pacific, Vietnam joined a limited group of destinations recording double-digit growth in 2025.

The surge in inbound travel has been driven by a combination of more flexible visa regimes, an expanding network of international air routes, and updated national promotion strategies aimed at long-haul and high-value markets. Analysts note that these measures have strengthened Vietnam’s accessibility and visibility at a time of intense global competition for travellers.

At the global level, international tourism reached 1.52 billion arrivals in 2025, according to UN Tourism. International tourism receipts totalled around US$1.9 trillion, while the sector’s overall export value rose to a record US$2.2 trillion.

The Asia-Pacific region followed with 331 million visitors, marking a 6 per cent increase year on year, though volumes remain at 91 per cent of 2019 levels. Within the region, North-East Asia recorded the strongest momentum with 13 per cent growth, while South Asia fully recovered to pre-pandemic figures.

Looking ahead, UN Tourism forecasts global tourism growth of 3–4 per cent in 2026.

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