Vietnam closed 2025 with a historic tourism performance, welcoming a record 21.2 million international visitors and firmly cementing its status as one of Asia’s fastest-rising destinations.

At the heart of this surge was a powerful rebound from China: tourists from the Chinese mainland accounted for roughly 25 percent of all foreign arrivals, or about 5.3 million visitors, underscoring how deeply Vietnam’s tourism fortunes are now intertwined with the world’s largest outbound travel market.

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Record-breaking year for Vietnam’s tourism industry

Figures released in early January 2026 by Vietnam’s General Statistics Office and the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism show that international arrivals in 2025 jumped about 20 percent year on year, surpassing the pre-pandemic peak of 2019 by nearly 18 percent. The 21.2 million foreign visitors recorded last year mark the largest volume of international tourism Vietnam has ever seen in a single year, confirming that its post-Covid recovery has not only completed but moved firmly into a new growth phase.

The momentum built steadily throughout the year. More than 2 million foreign visitors arrived in December alone, as major cities such as Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City drew large crowds for New Year’s countdowns, winter sun escapes and year-end shopping. Earlier in the year, January 2025 had already set the tone by posting an all-time monthly high of around 2.1 million international arrivals, signaling that Vietnam’s tourism sector was on track to break its previous records.

Tourism revenues mirrored the surge in visitor numbers. Estimates from Vietnamese authorities put total tourism-related income in 2025 at more than 1 quadrillion dong, or close to 40 billion US dollars, when accommodation, catering and travel services are combined. This windfall has provided a critical boost to the country’s broader services sector, supported employment across hospitality, transport and retail, and reinforced tourism’s role as a strategic pillar of Vietnam’s growth model.

Chinese visitors return and take a commanding lead

Within this record-setting performance, the most striking development was the return of Chinese travelers. After several years of pandemic-related border restrictions and a slower-than-expected reopening, 2025 marked the first full year in which Chinese outbound tourism normalized. Vietnam emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of that rebound, reclaiming its pre-pandemic position as one of the top overseas destinations for Chinese holidaymakers.

Data released in recent days show that visitors from mainland China reached about 5.2 to 5.3 million in 2025, a sharp 41 percent increase over 2024 and comfortably above the 4.5 million Chinese arrivals reported by neighboring Thailand. That flow accounted for roughly a quarter of all foreign arrivals to Vietnam, making China by far the country’s largest single source market and outpacing South Korea, which ranked second with around 4.3 million visitors.

Officials and industry analysts attribute the surge in Chinese arrivals to a combination of proximity, affordability and a perception of safety. Vietnam shares a long land border with China, is served by dense short-haul flight networks from major Chinese cities, and has actively promoted itself as a friendly, culturally familiar destination. While some Southeast Asian competitors grappled with negative headlines over safety concerns in 2025, Vietnam benefited from a relatively calm security environment and a growing reputation for well-managed tourist infrastructure.

Visa reforms and connectivity underpin the boom

Policy reforms have been central to Vietnam’s tourism turnaround. Throughout 2024 and 2025, the government rolled out a series of visa measures designed to make entry easier, stays longer and travel planning more flexible for international visitors. Authorities expanded a unilateral visa waiver scheme to 24 countries, largely in Europe and Northeast Asia, while the total number of countries enjoying any form of visa exemption now stands close to 40.

In parallel, Vietnam dramatically broadened the reach of its electronic visa system. By late 2025 the government had designated more than 80 international border gates, including airports, land crossings and seaports, as eligible for e-visa entry and exit. This simplified the process for independent travelers, particularly from markets that do not enjoy visa-free access, such as India and the United States, and reduced bottlenecks at consulates and embassies.

Air connectivity has also expanded significantly. National carrier Vietnam Airlines and low-cost operators such as Vietjet and Bamboo Airways restored or launched dozens of routes in 2025, focusing heavily on China and other key Asian markets. Direct flights have proliferated between Chinese second-tier cities and Vietnamese coastal hubs such as Nha Trang, Da Nang and Phu Quoc, making weekend beach breaks and short holidays more accessible to the growing Chinese middle class.

China’s pivot reshapes regional tourism dynamics

The scale of Chinese arrivals to Vietnam in 2025 is reverberating across Southeast Asia’s tourism landscape. For much of the past decade, Thailand has been the preferred overseas destination for Chinese travelers, often welcoming 10 million or more visitors a year from the mainland. Yet as Thailand’s Chinese arrivals slumped in 2025, Vietnam’s numbers surged, highlighting a broader shift in regional travel preferences and competitive positioning.

Travel analysts note that the competition for Chinese tourists has intensified as outbound travel from China has recovered unevenly. Safety worries, high costs in some markets and changing consumer tastes have prompted many Chinese travelers to consider alternatives to their traditional favorites. Vietnam, with its blend of beaches, cultural sites, city nightlife and comparatively moderate prices, has emerged as a compelling substitute for travelers once drawn in large numbers to Bangkok, Phuket or Chiang Mai.

Tour operators say Chinese visitors are increasingly looking for “new but nearby” experiences within a few hours’ flight time, particularly in countries where language support is improving and payment systems are familiar. Vietnam has worked to adapt to these preferences, with more Mandarin-speaking guides, acceptance of popular Chinese digital payment platforms in major tourist areas, and co-marketing campaigns with Chinese online travel agencies. These efforts are beginning to shift the regional hierarchy, with Vietnam now seen as a serious challenger to Thailand’s long-held tourism crown.

Beyond sheer volume, the spending behavior and travel styles of Chinese visitors are evolving in ways that are reshaping Vietnam’s tourism offer. While group tours dominated Chinese arrivals in the pre-pandemic era, industry sources report a notable rise in independent travelers and small family groups, particularly among younger and higher-income visitors. These travelers are more likely to seek boutique hotels, experiential activities and longer stays, and to split their time between multiple destinations within Vietnam.

Popular routes for Chinese tourists now extend well beyond the traditional “golden triangle” of Hanoi, Ha Long Bay and Ho Chi Minh City. Beach destinations like Da Nang, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc have all seen strong inflows, as have cooler highland retreats such as Da Lat and Sa Pa. There is also a growing interest in cross-border overland trips through northern provinces such as Lao Cai and Cao Bang, where improved roads and immigration facilities have made it easier for visitors from southern China to enter by car or coach.

Spending is increasingly concentrated in hospitality, dining and entertainment, including casinos and integrated resorts in border and coastal areas. Vietnam’s authorities have been cautious in regulating gaming, but the rising share of Chinese visitors has encouraged ongoing debates about how to balance strict oversight with the potential for higher tourism revenue. Retail spending on luxury goods remains more limited than in places like Hong Kong or Singapore, but duty-free zones and airport shopping are gradually expanding to capture more of this market.

Opportunities and strains for Vietnamese destinations

The extraordinary growth in visitor numbers, led by Chinese arrivals, is creating new economic opportunities across Vietnam. Hotels and guesthouses from Hanoi’s Old Quarter to countryside homestays report high occupancy rates, while restaurants, travel agencies and ride-hailing services say foreign tourists were a key source of income in 2025. Provinces that once played only a minor role in international tourism have begun to position themselves as niche destinations for nature, culture or adventure travel.

Local authorities are keen to promote Chinese tourism beyond the major coastal and urban hubs to help spread benefits more evenly. Some northern border provinces are investing in bilingual signage, training for hospitality workers and new tourism products that highlight local heritage and scenery. Joint cultural festivals, trade fairs and tourism roadshows have been organized with Chinese counterparts to encourage cross-border itineraries that include both sides of the frontier.

At the same time, the rapid influx has tested infrastructure in some high-demand locations. Popular beaches and heritage sites have experienced crowding during peak periods, raising concerns about environmental pressure and visitor satisfaction. Transport systems in major cities, especially airports and key road corridors, are under growing strain from the increased flow of international arrivals and domestic tourists alike.

Balancing growth with sustainability and diversification

Vietnam’s policymakers are acutely aware that dependence on a single source market carries risks. While Chinese tourists are currently the backbone of international arrivals, authorities and industry figures stress the importance of maintaining a diverse portfolio of visitors, including from South Korea, Japan, the United States, India, Europe and within Southeast Asia. The 2025 data show encouraging growth in several of these markets, but none yet match the scale of China.

Efforts are underway to push sustainable tourism practices more aggressively, particularly in fragile natural and cultural sites. Central and local governments have stepped up campaigns against littering, unlicensed construction and illegal tour operations, while some destinations have introduced caps on daily visitor numbers or higher conservation fees. There is also a renewed emphasis on promoting off-season and lesser-known locations to reduce pressure on established hotspots.

Industry observers say the challenge for Vietnam in the coming years will be to keep harnessing the spending power of Chinese visitors without letting short-term surges undermine long-term environmental and social stability. That includes ensuring that local communities share in the benefits of tourism and are involved in decisions that affect their land and resources. For now, however, the dominant view within government and business circles is that the 2025 boom has provided a rare window to accelerate investment in sustainable infrastructure and skills.

Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond

Building on the momentum of 2025, Vietnam has set an ambitious target of attracting 25 million international visitors in 2026. Authorities expect China to remain the top source market and are banking on continued growth, though possibly at a more moderate pace than last year’s surge. The government plans further digitalization of immigration procedures, new tourism promotions in major cities across China, and additional air links to secondary Chinese markets.

At the same time, Vietnam is intensifying efforts to court travelers from North America, Europe and India, especially higher-spending segments who tend to stay longer and explore a wider range of destinations. With major infrastructure projects such as airport expansions in Ho Chi Minh City and the development of new coastal economic zones, the country aims to reinforce its image as a stable, accessible and increasingly sophisticated tourism hub.

For now, the headline numbers tell a clear story. With 21.2 million foreign visitors in 2025 and Chinese tourists accounting for roughly a quarter of that total, Vietnam has vaulted into the ranks of Asia’s tourism heavyweights. How it manages that success, especially its deepening dependence on the Chinese market, will go a long way in determining whether the boom of 2025 becomes a sustainable new era for the country’s travel industry or a high-water mark that proves difficult to repeat.