January sets record with nearly 2.5mn foreign visitors to Vietnam

In January, Vietnam attracted nearly 2.5 million international visitors, a 21% increase from the previous month and the highest since 2009. South Korea was the largest source market, with 490,000 arrivals. Improved visa policies and tourism services contributed to this growth, supporting Vietnam’s aim of 25 million visitors by 2026.

According to the National Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.5 million international visitors in January, marking a month-on-month increase of more than 21 percent. This figure represents the highest monthly total since the country began recording international arrivals on a monthly basis in 2009.

South Korea emerged as Vietnam’s largest source market for the month, surpassing China with nearly 490,000 arrivals. South Korean travellers continued to favour coastal and island destinations, including Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, and Da Nang. China ranked second with close to 460,000 visitors, while Cambodia placed third – an unexpected rise from its previous position outside the top five source markets. Other major contributors included Taiwan, Japan, the United States, Australia, Russia, India, and Malaysia.

The National Statistics Office attributed the record performance to more flexible visa policies, strengthened international promotion, diversified tourism offerings, and ongoing improvements in service quality.

Nguyen Tien Dat, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, said the figures underscore a strong rebound in inbound tourism and signal continued growth ahead. He noted that international visitors are now dispersing more widely across the country, with destinations such as Phu Quoc reporting particularly high occupancy rates, especially in the luxury resort segment.

The January results provide early momentum toward Vietnam’s goal of welcoming 25 million international visitors in 2026. In 2025, the country recorded more than 21 million international arrivals, reinforcing its position as one of Asia’s fastest-recovering tourism markets.