Tourism growth in Vietnam continues

Vietnam's tourism sector is expanding rapidly, with the Vietnam National Tourism Authority reporting about 17.7 million international visitors between January and September 2026, a 14.5% increase compared to the same period in 2025. This growth has brought the sector close to 71% of its target of 25 million international arrivals for the full year of 2026.

China and South Korea remain top source markets

China and South Korea are still the leading source countries for Vietnam's international visitors, together accounting for nearly 40% of all arrivals. Over nine months, China contributed about 3.9 million visitors, a 1.5% increase, while South Korea saw a 5.5% decline in arrivals, with around 3 million visitors.

European markets show strong growth

European visitors to Vietnam have seen a significant increase, with overall visitation up by 55%. Russia is the top European source, with 1.1 million visitors and a 160.6% year-on-year rise. Other European countries like France, Germany, and the UK also reported double-digit increases, while Poland saw a 49% rise in visitors.

Vietnam's appeal to travel agencies

Travel agencies highlight Vietnam's strong price-quality ratio and diverse cultural experiences as major attractions. Jérôme Caro, director of Destino Mundo, emphasizes the country's accessibility by air, the variety of experiences from North to South, and the availability of domestic flights over more tiring train travel for long distances.

Tour operators offer varied itineraries

French tour operators have included Vietnam in their catalogs with different types of tours. Destino Mundo offers a private tour titled Vietnam Pause, Off the Beaten Path, while the Maisons du Voyage market provides a guided tour titled Vietnam Intimate. Asia offers a group tour titled Vietnam Essential, focusing on major attractions from Hanoi to Saigon.

Vietnam welcomes group tourism

Vietnam is well-equipped to handle group tourism, particularly with its experience in welcoming large groups of Chinese tourists before the pandemic. Jérôme Caro notes the friendliness and helpfulness of the tourism staff, which adds to the country's appeal for group travel.

Air travel dominates international tourism

International tourism in Vietnam heavily relies on air travel, with 83.2% of foreign arrivals coming by air in the first nine months of 2026. This is significantly higher than arrivals by land (15.4%) or sea (1.4%). The availability of air seats and the accessibility of Vietnamese destinations are key to the sector's continued growth.

Airports see increased traffic

Vietnamese airports recorded nearly 102 million passenger movements between January and September 2026, a 12% increase compared to the same period in 2025. International traffic grew by 14%, reaching over 39 million passengers, while domestic traffic increased by 11%, surpassing 62 million passengers.

Future air traffic forecasts

The Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority (CAAV) expects around 94 million air passengers for 2026, up 13% from the previous year. This includes more than 1.6 million tons of freight, up 9.3%. These projections relate to air traffic rather than airport passenger movements and should not be directly compared.

Vietnamese airlines expand capacity

Vietnamese airlines are expanding their fleets to meet growing demand. Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Sun PhuQuoc Airways, and Vietravel Airlines are planning to add aircraft through purchase or lease. The CAAV is also working on the winter 2026-2027 flight schedule and adjusting airport operations for peak times.

Infrastructure projects underway

The new Long Thành International Airport near Ho Chi Minh City is set to open in December 2026 to ease pressure on the existing Tan Son Nhat Airport. Authorities are also developing Hanoi's Gia Binh Airport to improve integration with other transport networks and support regional economic growth.

Challenges remain in the aviation sector

Despite the growth, the aviation sector faces challenges such as fluctuating fuel prices, geopolitical tensions, and supply chain issues. These factors can impact capacity expansion and pricing. Managing peak travel periods, like the end of the year and the Tet 2027 holiday, will also be a focus for the CAAV.