International Tourist Arrivals to Vietnam Surge During Year-End Season

Vietnam witnessed a significant surge in international visitor arrivals in October and November 2024, with numbers surpassing 3.1 million. This positive trend bodes well for the country’s tourism industry as it strives toward ambitious goals for 2025.

According to statistics from the General Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed approximately 1.42 million international visitors in October 2024, marking a 27.6% increase compared to the same period last year. November 2024 saw an even more remarkable rise, with international arrivals exceeding 1.7 million, reflecting a 38.8% year-on-year growth.

Cumulatively, from January to November 2024, Vietnam played host to over 15.8 million international visitors, indicating a notable 41.0% increase year-on-year.

Mr. Pham Duy Nghia, CEO of Vietfoot Travel, attributed this substantial increase in foreign tourist arrivals to Vietnam’s current peak season for international tourism.

“Vietnam’s peak season for international tourism typically spans from October of one year to March of the next. As Western countries experience winter, travelers from these regions tend to seek warmer climates in tropical destinations. This often results in a significant spike in international arrivals to Vietnam during this period,” shared Mr. Nghia.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tran The Dung, CEO of Vietluxtour, expressed optimism about Vietnam achieving its target of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors in 2024, and even surpassing this goal in 2025.

“Since October, Vietluxtour has witnessed a threefold increase in tourist arrivals. Hence, the industry’s goal of attracting approximately 1.9 million visitors each month is well within reach during this peak season. I foresee us achieving this target or coming very close to it,” stated Mr. Dung.

The CEO of Vietluxtour further elaborated on Vietnam’s prospects for 2025, highlighting that the country will have the opportunity to attract a significant number of international tourists as Russia and several Eastern European countries move past their current political instability.

“Vietnam boasts a lengthy coastline, a diverse culture, delectable cuisine, favorable climate, and excellent infrastructure. In recent years, Vietnam has also gained recognition as a safe and politically stable destination. Consequently, new tourism markets, such as India and South Korea, are increasingly choosing Vietnam as their preferred travel destination. We can confidently set more ambitious goals for international visitor arrivals and make the necessary preparations to accommodate this growth,” asserted the CEO of Vietluxtour.

As per the plans outlined, Vietnam aspires to become a prominent and highly competitive tourism destination globally by 2025.

Specifically, by 2025, Vietnam aims to attract 25-28 million international visitors and 130 million domestic tourists, maintaining an annual growth rate of 8-9% for domestic tourism. Looking ahead to 2030, the targets become more ambitious, with expectations of luring 35 million international visitors at a growth rate of 13-15% per annum and serving 160 million domestic tourists with a growth rate of 4-5% annually.

In terms of economic impact, the tourism industry is projected to directly contribute 8-9% to Vietnam’s GDP by 2025 and reach 13-14% by 2030.

By 2045, tourism is envisioned to play a pivotal role in driving the country’s economy. Vietnam aims to establish itself as a prominent global destination, ranking among the top tourism destinations in the Asia-Pacific region. The industry sets its sights on welcoming 70 million international visitors, generating approximately 7.3 billion VND in total revenue, and contributing a substantial 17-18% to the nation’s GDP.