Vietnam’s tourism sector has seen a compelling resurgence since the pandemic, with international arrivals climbing sharply from 2022 onwards and 2025 shaping up to be a record-breaking year.

Whole‑year figures illustrate the recovery: from just 3.4mn international arrivals in 2022, numbers surged to 12.6mn in 2023 - a nearly fourfold rise - and further to 17.5mn in 2024, almost matching the 2019 high of 18mn sources in the country report. These figures reveal not just recovery but resilience, as Vietnam outpaces regional peers, such as Thailand and Singapore, in returning to pre‑COVID tourism levels.

Monthly and quarterly data for 2025 underscore this momentum. In Q1 alone, over 6mn visitors arrived - a 29.6% year‑on‑year (y/y) jump and the strongest quarter on record. That translated into roughly $9.3bn in tourism revenue Tuoi Tre News reports.

Meanwhile, January 2025 saw 2.1mn arrivals, up 36.9% from January 2024 and 37.8% compared to January 2019 Vietnam Plus states.

The numbers are obvious on the streets with Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, the ancient capital of Hue and Hoi An all busy with foreign tourists of late.

Vietnam’s optimism is further supported by strong visa‑policy reforms. Expanded visa‑exemption lists including Europe’s inclusion, and electronic visas issued for up to 90 days helped fuel a 48% surge in Chinese arrivals and double‑digit increases across Korean, European and North American markets in January 2025 VietNamNet adds.

Notably, European tourists alone rose by over 20% y/y, reinforced by Vietnam's unilateral visa exemptions.

Domestic tourism has been equally vibrant. Domestic tourism numbers hit 101mn in 2022, rising to 108mn in 2023, and reached 110mn in 2024, Vietnam Plus adds.

In the first five months of 2025, 61.5mn domestic trips were taken.

Still, challenges remain. Vietnam targets 22–23mn international visitors by the end of 2025, and while growth is strong, it must sustain momentum against rising regional competition. At present though, early‑year figures point to a likely record year thanks to a blend of visa liberalisation, infrastructure upgrades, and promotional diversification.