International arrivals at record levels in early 2026

According to the April socio-economic report from the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam received 2.03 million foreign visitors in April alone, up 22.8 percent compared to the same period last year.

Overall, international arrivals reached 8.8 million in the first four months, up 14.6 percent year-on-year, setting a new record for the period.

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism noted that this is the first time the industry has recorded four consecutive months with over 2 million international arrivals each month. It also marks the first time the total number of foreign visitors in the first four months has reached 8.8 million.

Despite this being the lead-up to the domestic peak travel season, international arrivals have remained consistently high, indicating strong growth prospects and a positive outlook for Vietnam’s tourism sector.

This performance becomes even more notable when viewed in a regional context.

In the first four months of 2026, Thailand welcomed 11.3 million international visitors, but this represented a 3.4 percent decline compared to the same period last year. In the first quarter, Singapore recorded 4.4 million visitors, up 2.8 percent, while Indonesia received 3.51 million and the Philippines 1.83 million.

These comparisons highlight Vietnam as a rising bright spot in Southeast Asia’s tourism landscape.

The results reinforce Vietnam’s position as a safe, stable and increasingly attractive destination on the global tourism map.

Russian arrivals surge nearly 300 percent

In the first four months of 2026, the top 10 source markets for Vietnam included China, South Korea, Russia, Taiwan, Cambodia, the US, India, Japan, Australia and the Philippines. The Philippines entered the top 10 for the first time after surpassing Malaysia.

These markets accounted for 72 percent of total international arrivals, with China and South Korea alone contributing 39.8 percent.

Europe emerged as the fastest-growing region during the period, with Russia standing out for its remarkable surge of nearly 300 percent compared to the same period last year.

The strong recovery of direct flights, combined with growing demand for long-stay resort travel and Vietnam’s competitive advantages in safety, convenience, natural conditions and cost, has positioned the country as a leading destination for Russian tourists in Asia.

Western and Northern European markets also recorded positive growth, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy and Norway. Visa-exempt markets such as Poland, Switzerland and the Czech Republic saw strong increases of 52.7 percent, 19.4 percent and 23.1 percent respectively compared to the same period in 2025.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, the structure of international markets is shifting toward greater diversity and sustainability, with the emergence of new high-potential markets.

This transformation provides a solid foundation for maintaining stable growth and enhancing the sector’s resilience against global fluctuations.

Linh Trang