“Vietnam’s Record-Breaking Streak: A Seven-Month Wonder with a Cambodian Twist”

Vietnam’s tourism industry is booming, with international arrivals surpassing expectations. In July 2025, the country welcomed approximately 1.56 million foreign visitors, marking a nearly 7% increase from June and a remarkable 36% surge compared to the same period in 2024. This growth trend continues even during the industry’s low season, showcasing the country’s enduring appeal to global travelers.

The statistics for July reveal that Russia led the charge with a 300% increase in visitor numbers year-on-year, followed by significant growth from China and visa-exempt countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and Norway.

Cumulatively, from January to July 2025, Vietnam hosted over 12.2 million international arrivals, reflecting a nearly 23% jump from the previous year.

This figure also represents a 25% increase compared to 2019, which was a landmark year for Vietnamese tourism.

Notably, Cambodia emerged as a key market, with arrivals from the country surging by 54.4% year-on-year to reach 401,000.

Cambodia now ranks 6th among the top 10 international tourist markets for Vietnam, surpassing India, Australia, Russia, and Malaysia.

This shift underscores the growing appeal of Vietnam within the region.

Turning to Europe, Russia maintained its dominance with a 156.6% growth rate, translating to 315,000 visitors. Russia currently holds the 9th position in the ranking of the top 10 markets for Vietnam during the first seven months of 2025.

Experts attribute this success to a range of factors, including Vietnam’s relaxed visa policies, effective tourism promotion campaigns, and celebrations commemorating significant national events. For instance, the short-term visa exemption policy outlined in Resolution 11/NQ-CP boosted arrivals from Poland (up 44.8%) and Switzerland (up 15.8%).

Analyzing the mode of transport, air travel dominated with 10.4 million arrivals, accounting for 85.1% of the total and reflecting a 23.8% year-on-year increase. Road and sea travel also contributed significantly, with 1.6 million (13.4%) and 183,900 (1.5%) arrivals, respectively.

According to the Statistics Bureau, the most sought-after destinations in Vietnam include Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang. These cities offer diverse tourism ecosystems, a wide range of accommodation options, and unique entertainment experiences.

Additionally, the robust performance of the trade and tourism sectors during the first seven months of 2025 positively impacted retail sales and service consumption, which rose by 9.3% year-on-year. Notably, accommodation and dining services generated estimated revenues of VND 481.9 trillion, a 15% increase, while tourism and travel services brought in VND 52.8 trillion, up 20%. Several provinces and cities, including Ho Chi Minh City (up 19.7%), Da Nang (18.6%), Can Tho (14.8%), Hanoi (12%), and Hai Phong (11%), recorded impressive growth rates.

Vietnam’s peak tourism season for international visitors typically spans from September-October to March-April of the following year.