According to data released on 8/7 by the online travel platform Agoda, the most popular destinations for international tourists in Vietnam during the first half of the year were largely consistent with the same period last year: Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, and Hanoi. The key difference is Phu Quoc's rise to the 5th spot, replacing Hoi An, demonstrating the island's growing appeal and the increased frequency of international flights, particularly from Seoul.

Foreign tourists at Nha Trang beach in 2024. Photo: Bui Toan

Foreign tourists at Nha Trang beach in 2024. Photo: Bui Toan

An Agoda representative explained that South Korean tourists tend to favor coastal and island destinations, with Nha Trang taking the top spot, followed by Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Hoi An, and Ho Chi Minh City. Meanwhile, Chinese tourists prefer major cities and island resorts. Their top choices are Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Nha Trang.

Japanese tourists prioritize Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, Hoi An, and Phu Quoc. Data from NEWT, a smart travel app in Japan, previously suggested Vietnam as a "hidden gem" alongside Turkey and Morocco, as the weakening yen led Japanese tourists to limit international travel. However, Vietnam did not make it into the top 5 destinations chosen by Japanese tourists during the recent Golden Week (29/4-5/5).

For the Thai market, a report from the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) shows Vietnam among the top 5 popular destinations chosen by Thai tourists during the Songkran holiday in April, alongside Japan, China, and South Korea. The "Traveler Change Report 2025" published by SiteMinder in June also shows that Thai tourists are eager to visit Japan, China, South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam.

American tourists, meanwhile, favor Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Hanoi, Nha Trang, and Hoi An. According to Travel and Tour World, a leading digital B2B media platform in the tourism industry, Vietnam is emerging as an alternative destination to traditional markets for American tourists amid growing concerns about global safety. Americans are reconsidering travel plans to popular destinations in the Caribbean, such as the Bahamas and Barbados, which were once considered tourist havens.

In the first 6 months of the year, Vietnam welcomed nearly 10.7 million international visitors and 77.5 million domestic tourists, with total tourism revenue reaching over 515,000 trillion VND, according to figures released by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism on 6/7.

According to the May issue of the World Tourism Barometer, in the first quarter of this year, Vietnam had the 6th highest international tourist growth rate globally, up 30% compared to the same period in 2024. Within the Asia-Pacific region, Vietnam ranked first, followed by Japan and Palau. Vietnam also ranked second in terms of international tourist arrival recovery (up 34% compared to 2019) and 4th in terms of total tourism revenue growth, with 29%, compared to 2024.

Hoai Anh