Vietnam welcomes 12.2 million foreign arrivals in H1, up 15%
VOV.VN - Vietnam welcomed an estimated 12.2 million international visitors in the first six months of 2026, up 14.8% from a year earlier, putting the country on track to achieve its target of 25 million foreign arrivals this year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).
Asia remained Vietnam’s dominant source market, accounting for around 70–75% of total international arrivals. China continued to be the country's largest inbound market with nearly 2.7 million arrivals, followed by the Republic of Korea (2.16 million), Taiwan (China – nearly 640,000), Cambodia (nearly 510,000), India (491,000) and Japan (441,000). Northeast Asia was the backbone of Vietnam’s inbound tourism, underscoring the country's continued reliance on the region, while ASEAN markets such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia maintained steady growth.
Long-haul markets also showed a solid recovery, particularly the United States, Russia, Australia and Western European countries including the United Kingdom, France and Germany. These markets contributed to a more diversified visitor mix, with Russian arrivals rebounding strongly at several coastal destinations and European markets posting double-digit growth in many cases.
Domestic tourism was also strong, with an estimated 81 million trips recorded during the January–June period. Total tourism revenue was estimated at VND569 trillion (about US$21.8 billion), equivalent to just over half of the full-year target.
For 2026, Vietnam aims to attract 25 million international visitors and 150 million domestic travellers, generating total tourism revenue of around VND1.125 quadrillion.
In the second half of the year, VNAT said it would focus on improving the legal and policy framework for the tourism sector while implementing a national strategy to develop tourism into a key economic industry.
The authority also plans to revise the Tourism Law, promote specialised tourism products such as wellness tourism, agri-tourism and OCOP-based tourism, and update Vietnam's tourism development strategy through 2030.
At the same time, Vietnam will step up international promotion campaigns, participate in major travel fairs including World Travel Market 2026, International Travel Expo 2026, and strengthen tourism cooperation with key markets, including through the Vietnam–China Tourism Cooperation Year 2026–2027.
VNAT also plans to host and participate in a series of regional tourism forums and international conferences aimed at promoting sustainable tourism development and expanding regional cooperation.
Foreign tourist arrivals reach all-time high in Vietnam in first quarter
VOV.VN - Vietnam welcomed a record 6.76 million international visitors in the first quarter of 2026, marking the highest number ever recorded for a first quarter, according to the National Statistics Office.
