Tourism directly contributed nearly 8.8% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2025 and supported about 4.41 million jobs, equivalent to 8.5% of the workforce. 

Vietnam rose seven places from 2024 and 11 from 2019 to rank 52nd among 110 economies in the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s 2026 Travel & Tourism Development Index (TTDI), the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said.

Hidden inside a mountain in northern Vietnam, Thien Ha Cave combines dry and water-filled chambers, dazzling stalactites and shafts of sunlight streaming through a natural "sky gate."

In recent years, many highland communities have drawn on natural landscapes, traditional crafts and everyday customs to develop tourism products and tell the cultural stories of their localities.

Da Nang is stepping up efforts to tap the Russian and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) tourism markets as visitor numbers from the region rebound strongly, helping diversify the city's international tourist base.

More than 5,400 craft villages and villages with craft activities provide a rich and distinctive resource for Vietnam’s tourism sector, especially as interests are shifting from sightseeing and shopping to exploring local lifestyles.

Russian arrivals in Vietnam topped 1 million in the first eight months of 2026, up about 166%, as travelers increasingly plan their own trips, stay longer and seek more varied experiences.

QR payments in Vietnam by visitors from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia rose eightfold in the first eight months of 2026, while their total value increased sixfold from a year earlier.

Vietnam's tourism sector targets 25-27 million international visitors and 150-153 million domestic tourists in 2026, with total revenue estimated at 1.12-1.23 quadrillion VND (47.34 billion USD).

Vietnam’s tourism sector needs to shift from volume to quality, strengthen industry linkages and target the right markets and products to attract high-value visitors and drive sustainable growth, industry insiders said.

Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW, dated August 22, 2026, on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector in the new era, sets ambitious targets for Vietnam’s tourism industry while outlining a new approach to organising tourism growth.

MICE tourism, which combines meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions, is emerging as a high-value tourism product and a driver of trade, investment, knowledge, technology and cultural exchange.​

Vietnam's traditional arts are getting a creative overhaul, giving residents and tourists a new way to experience them.

Vietnam is targeting 45–50 million international tourist arrivals by 2030, but experts say reaching the ambitious goal will depend on stronger infrastructure, policies, tourism products and growth quality.

Vietnam's tourism industry is racing ahead, with international arrivals hitting new highs, but the sector is facing a growing shortage of skilled workers, from hotel staff and chefs to foreign-language guides and senior managers.

The UK’s The Times has named Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park in Quang Tri among Vietnam’s 11 most beautiful destinations for 2026, reinforcing the World Heritage Site’s growing international appeal.

Vietnam’s tourism sector needs to shift from pursuing visitor numbers to maximising value, while developing a high-quality, smart, green, creative and culturally distinctive tourism ecosystem to create new growth momentum, experts have said.

Vietnam welcomed nearly 16 million international visitors in the first eight months of 2026, maintaining strong growth across traditional Asian markets and long-haul destinations, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

The number of Russian visitors to Vietnam is forecast to reach a historic record of 1.5 million this year, a senior official has said.