“From May to September 2027, we will welcome a charter flight carrying Polish tourists to Vietnam each month, with each flight carrying about 300 passengers. This is the first time we can welcome European guests during the summer,” said Le Phong Tran from Vietluxtour.

In general, the peak season for international visitors is from November to March, with guests mainly going during their winter holidays. This time, Vietluxtour has the opportunity to welcome Polish tourists in the summer.

As one of Vietnam’s leading inbound travel companies, European tourists now account for more than 35 percent of total international arrivals at the firm, with key markets including the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and Poland. The Polish market alone has recorded growth of more than 45 percent.

Tran The Dung, CEO of Vietluxtour, said this reflects Vietnam’s more open visa policies, effective promotion efforts, and the country’s growing appeal as a destination.

Dung added that in the first three months of this year, international arrivals grew well through charter flights. When conflicts occurred, some flights with transits in the Middle East were disrupted, but direct flights were largely unaffected, helping maintain stable overall visitor numbers.

According to Dung, most European tourists choose Middle Eastern airlines to travel to Vietnam due to convenience and reasonable costs. When the region becomes unstable, some segments, especially private tours and “free & easy” travelers (flight + hotel packages), tend to slow down due to rising ticket prices. However, previously planned group tours continue as scheduled.  

As conflict in the Middle East has affected international aviation activities, many worry that Vietnam's tourism could suffer a chain effect. However, in the early stage of 2026, the number of international visitors to Vietnam saw positive signs.

New record 

The Statistics Office reported that in the first quarter of 2026 alone, Vietnam welcomed up to 6.76 million international arrivals, an increase of more than 12 percent over the same period, establishing a new record.

Notably, many markets grew by 40-70 percent, and some even 200 percent. For example, the number of Russian visitors increased by 194.5 percent compared to the first quarter of 2025, while visitors from Poland grew by 52 percent, Norway 26 percent, Switzerland over 27 percent, Sweden 27.5 percent, and Denmark and Italy by over 20 percent.

The business representative said that the volume of international visitors from now until the end of the year has been booked since last year, so it is less affected. New bookings may slow down in the short term, but overall demand remains positive. 

When the situation stabilizes, the number of postponed guests may return, similar to the recovery period after the Covid-19 pandemic.

The trend of European and American guests is becoming increasingly clear as this group has a long duration of stay, high spending levels, and often chooses trans-Vietnam itineraries. 

This helps the flow of visitors spread to many localities, even places without international airports such as Ca Mau, Pleiku and Buon Ma Thuot. Thanks to that, the flow of guests is distributed more evenly, instead of just concentrating on major centers like HCMC, Hanoi, or Da Nang.

Diversifying markets

In key tourism localities, the number of international visitors still maintains a growth momentum, despite impact from geopolitical fluctuations. Nguyen Quang Thang, Standing Vice Chair of the Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, said that in the first quarter of 2026, local tourism still achieved positive results thanks to early promotion work.

This year, Khanh Hoa sets a goal to receive more than 18 million visitors, of which international visitors exceed 6.5 million. South Korea, Russia, and some new markets are its key sources of travelers. Currently, every day the locality welcomes about 20 flights from South Korea. Russian guests also increased sharply thanks to charter plans signed in advance.

Nguyen Quang Thang believed that the influence of the conflict in the Middle East is only short-term. Some flights were adjusted but are expected to recover quickly. Diversifying markets helps Khanh Hoa reduce dependence on a single source of visitors.

After Covid-19, the structure of international visitors to Khanh Hoa has changed significantly. Instead of depending on the Chinese and Russian markets as before, the locality has stepped up promotion of new markets such as South Korea, Southeast Asia, India, and Europe. It also expects 48-50 international cruise ships docking at Cam Ranh port and the marina this year. 

Ngoc Ha