According to data from the General Statistics Office on 3/10, Vietnam welcomed 1,77 million international visitors in September, an 11% decrease from August but a 16% increase compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively over the past nine months, Vietnam received 17,7 million international arrivals, an almost 15% increase year-on-year, achieving 71% of this year's 25 million visitor target.
Mainland China maintains its position as the number one source market but is no longer Vietnam's primary growth driver. Over the past nine months, nearly 4 million visitors from this market arrived in Vietnam, accounting for over 22% of total arrivals and showing a slight 1,5% increase year-on-year. For Q3 alone, visitor numbers rose 8% compared to Q3 2025 but fell 4% from Q2 this year.
According to Chinese Tourist Agency, a Shanghai-based digital marketing company, Vietnam's advantages include geographical proximity, similar cuisine, affordable prices, and high security, which attract Chinese visitors.
However, visitor numbers did not increase significantly compared to last year due to competition from visa-free destinations. Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have bilateral visa exemption agreements with China, while South Korea began offering visa exemptions for Chinese tour groups in September 2025.
The remainder of the top 10 consists of familiar names from Asia and countries such as Russia, the US, and Australia, with no major fluctuations. Russia recorded the strongest growth rate, increasing by 126% year-on-year, while other destinations saw increases of 10-40%.
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Chinese tourists visit the City Post Office in TP HCM. Photo: Thanh Tung |
Chinese tourists visit the City Post Office in TP HCM. Photo: Thanh Tung
According to Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of AZA Travel Company, Russia is a traditional market for Vietnam. The increasing number of direct flights between the two countries, coupled with visa exemption policies, further motivates Russian visitors.
South Korea is the only market in the top 10 to experience a decrease in visitors, welcoming over 3 million arrivals in the past nine months, equivalent to 95% of the figure for the same period in 2025.
Dat stated that welcoming Korean visitors to Vietnam last summer faced pressure due to a room shortage, particularly in Da Nang and Phu Quoc. This scarcity, combined with increased demand, drove up hotel room prices. The Korean market is also "price-sensitive", prompting visitors to seek alternative destinations if costs rise.
Phuong Anh
