VIETNAM WELCOMES 8.8 MILLION FOREIGN VISITORS IN JAN-APR

Foreign tourists are seen in downtown HCMC – PHOTO: DAT THANH

HCMC – International visitors to Vietnam in the first four months of 2026 rose 14.6% over the same period last year to over 8.8 million, with April alone seeing 2.03 million foreign arrivals, showed data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

It was also the first time the four-month figure exceeded 8.8 million. April marked the fourth straight month with more than two million visitors.

Vietnam gained 35% of its full-year target of 25 million foreign arrivals for 2026. VNAT noted that the results came despite global geopolitical uncertainties, including tensions in the Middle East, and reflected Vietnam’s position as a stable destination.

Vietnam’s top 10 source markets were China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan (China), Cambodia, the United States, India, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines. These markets accounted for about 72% of total international arrivals, with China and South Korea contributing nearly 40%.

India remained the fastest-growing market in South Asia, with arrivals up 59.1%. Europe posted the strongest regional growth at 53.3%. Russian arrivals rose nearly 300%.

The increase in Russian visitors was linked to the resumption of direct flights, demand for long stays, and advantages in safety, cost, and natural conditions, the VNAT reported.

Visa-exempt markets also expanded. Arrivals from Poland rose 52.7%, Switzerland 19.4%, and the Czech Republic 23.1%, indicating the impact of liberal visa policy on demand.

Among regional markets, Thailand received 11.3 million visitors in the same period, down 3.4% year-on-year. Singapore reported 4.4 million arrivals in the first quarter, up 2.8%. Indonesia recorded 3.51 million, while the Philippines posted 1.83 million.

Source: The Saigon Times