According to data released this morning by the National Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed nearly 2.5 million international visitors in January. This figure represents an increase of over 21% from the previous month, marking it as the month with the highest number of arrivals in history.

The ranking of Vietnam's largest source markets has shifted this year. South Korea led with nearly 490,000 arrivals, followed by mainland China with close to 460,000. However, the most surprising source was Cambodia, which sent over 223,000 visitors in the first month, making it Vietnam's third-largest source market.

Other major source markets included Taiwan, Japan, the US, Australia, Russia, India, and Malaysia. Notably, arrivals from Malaysia and China both decreased by 2-6%.

Regarding growth drivers, Cambodia recorded the highest growth rate in January, tripling its numbers compared to 12/2025. Other markets with strong growth included South Korea, Russia, Australia, Italy, Japan, and Denmark, with increases ranging from 30-70%.

Russian tourists celebrated the New Year at Bai Sau coastal park, TP HCM, on the night of 31/12/2025. Photo: Dang Khoa

According to the National Statistics Office, breakthrough visa policies, robust innovation in tourism promotion, product diversification, and improved service quality have attracted a large number of international visitors to Vietnam.

Tourism experts view this figure as a positive omen for the industry, suggesting that a favorable start will ensure a successful year, potentially helping Vietnam meet its annual target of 25 million visitors.

"The flexibility of the e-visa policy, the increased temporary stay duration, and increasingly convenient air connectivity are practical levers to achieve this figure", commented Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asia Tourism Development Institute.

Phuong Anh