Vietnam set a new quarterly record for international tourist arrivals in the first three months of 2025 with more than six million visitors according to information from the General Statistics Office.
Local media outlet VietnamNet noted that the Q1 result represented a 30% year-on-year increase in international arrivals and was also 34% higher than 1Q19.
The surge was led by China, which contributed around 1.6 million arrivals in the first quarter – up 78.3% year-on-year – followed by South Korea with 1.26 million arrivals, up 2.2%. The two nations contributed 47% of all international arrivals into Vietnam.
Other key markets included Taiwan with 331,000 visitors, the United States with 259,000, Cambodia with 234,000 and Japan with 226,000.
The General Statistics Office also pointed out that European source markets showed strong growth thanks to Vietnam’s unilateral visa exemption policies. These included the UK rising by 23.5%, France by 28.3%, Germany by 23.3%, and Italy by 29%. Russia showed impressive growth of 110.5%.
VietnamNet added that Vietnam’s tourism sector is well and truly on track to achieve its goal of attracting 22 to 23 million international visitors in 2025.
Vietnam is home to a number of foreigner-only casino resorts, including Hoiana near Hoi An, Ho Tram in Ba Ria–Vung Tau and Corona in Phu Quoc. Corona ended its three-year locals gaming trial in January.