According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, Vietnam received 19.5 million international visitors in the first ten months of 2026, up 13.8% year on year and about 78% of the full-year target of 25 million. With November and December being peak months for European, North American and Australian travellers, the industry is well placed to hit its goal.
Where visitors come from
- Asia still accounts for nearly 75% (14.6 million), led by China (nearly 4.4 million) and South Korea (3.4 million).
- Europe reached 3.22 million, up 51.5%; Russian arrivals alone rose about 150% to 1.25 million.
- Fast-growing markets: the Philippines (+52.4%), Poland (+45.8%), Cambodia (+43.2%), Singapore (+28.9%), Indonesia (+27.1%) and Australia (+21.3%).
- Oceania grew 21.5% and the Americas 18.1%.
Policies driving momentum
An open visa policy (unilateral visa waivers for many markets, 90-day e-visas and multiple entry) remains a top factor. Promotion at major fairs such as WTM London, together with airlines opening new international routes, has connected Vietnam directly with more long-haul markets. The restructuring under the two-tier local government model also opens wider room for tourism links between newly merged provinces.
Impact on Vietnam's economy
- Services exports: spending by foreign visitors is an important source of foreign currency, complementing goods exports.
- Consumption and jobs: accommodation, food, transport and retail are labour-intensive and spread benefits widely across local economies.
- Aviation and airports: more visitors support airlines and airport operators, especially as Long Thanh airport nears operation.
- Resort property: stronger demand improves occupancy in hubs such as Da Nang, Khanh Hoa and Phu Quoc.
Room to grow
Korean arrivals fell 6.3%, suggesting a need to refresh products for this traditional market. In contrast, strong growth from Europe is encouraging because these travellers tend to stay longer and spend more. Promoting green, cultural and wellness tourism will raise the value of each visit rather than just the number of visitors.
vietnamii.com view: tourism is growing steadily with a more diverse visitor mix. With the year-end peak season ahead, the 25 million target for 2026 looks likely to be met, giving the services sector a further boost.