On 25/6, digital travel platform Agoda announced that searches for Vietnam travel from the Chinese market surged by 164% between 1/1 and 31/5 compared to last year, positioning China as the top country showing interest in the S-shaped nation.
Data compiled from Agoda's top 10 international markets revealed a growth trend across all ten. Compared to the same period, search volumes from Indonesia rose by 86%, followed by the Philippines at 82%, and Thailand with 65%.
Top 10 markets with the highest search growth:
| Country | Growth Rate Year-on-Year | Most Searched City |
| China | 164% | TP HCM |
| Indonesia | 86% | Ha Noi |
| Philippines | 82% | Ha Noi |
| Thailand | 65% | Da Nang |
| Poland | 63% | Phu Quoc |
| India | 52% | Phu Quoc |
| Qatar | 49% | Ha Noi |
| Myanmar | 48% | Da Nang |
| Malaysia | 41% | TP HCM |
| New Zealand | 40% | TP HCM |
Vu Ngoc Lam, Agoda's Country Director for Vietnam, noted that the inclusion of three Southeast Asian nations in the top 5, alongside Myanmar and Malaysia in the top 10, positions Vietnam as a "golden coordinate" in the region.
Hanoi, Da Nang, and TP HCM consistently rank as the top three most searched destinations across most international markets. Agoda representatives describe these cities as Vietnam's primary tourism gateways, providing unique experiences for visitors.
Poland, the sole European country in the top 10, recorded a 63% increase in searches. This surge is primarily attributed to Vietnam's visa exemption policy for Polish citizens, effective from 2025. The removal of visa barriers simplifies travel planning for Eastern European tourists, enhancing their interest in Vietnamese destinations.
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Chinese tourists visit the City Post Office in TP HCM. Photo: Thanh Tung |
Phu Quoc topped searches for Indian and Polish travelers, highlighting the "pearl island's" appeal to international visitors.
Data from the An Giang Department of Tourism shows that from January through May, the province welcomed over 13,3 million visitors, a 12,1% increase year-on-year. Phu Quoc alone received approximately 4,77 million visitors, a 34,2% rise from the same period, achieving 56,1% of its annual target. International arrivals to Phu Quoc reached about 1,17 million, an increase of 51%.
On 19/6, Travel + Leisure magazine recognized Phu Quoc with the number two position in its annual Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific, which celebrates outstanding luxury destinations and resorts across the Asia-Pacific region.
"The surge in international market searches underscores Vietnam's broad appeal," an Agoda representative stated, emphasizing the country's diverse tourism ecosystem, which ranges from modern cities and ancient culture to majestic natural landscapes.
Hoai Anh
