In March, Vietnam saw a significant decline in European tourist arrivals, dropping up to 42 percent in some countries due to disruptions from the Middle East crisis affecting aviation routes and raising travel costs. However, overall international visitor numbers for the first quarter increased by 12 percent year-on-year.
European arrivals to Vietnam declined sharply in March, as disruptions linked to the Middle East crisis impacted key aviation routes and increased travel costs.
According to the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed around two million international visitors during the month, marking a 6.7 percent decrease from February – despite February being a shorter, 28-day period that included the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday.
The steepest declines were recorded in European markets, including Norway (down 42 percent), Poland (38 percent), Sweden (37 percent), Denmark (26 percent), the Czech Republic (23 percent), and Switzerland (21 percent). Industry insiders attribute the drop to disruptions at major transit hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Jeddah, and Muscat, which have affected connectivity between Europe and Southeast Asia.
Rising fuel costs linked to the conflict have also contributed to higher airfares, further dampening travel demand.
In contrast, several Asian markets recorded strong growth. Visitor numbers from Japan rose by 39 percent, followed by Indonesia (34 percent), Thailand (26 percent), Laos (25 percent), Singapore (23 percent), India (19 percent), and China (4 percent).
Despite the monthly decline, Vietnam recorded 6.76 million international arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, up 12 percent year-on-year and marking the highest quarterly figure on record.
Australian Hospitality Alumni Network Vietnam 