Figure 1. International visitors by month in 2026 (million of arrivals)

Notably, these results were achieved despite June traditionally being a low season for international tourism while marking the peak season for domestic travel. Maintaining nearly 1.7 million international arrivals and sustaining double-digit growth during this period demonstrates the growing resilience and competitiveness of Viet Nam as a tourism destination.

Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty, persistent geopolitical tensions, and evolving international travel patterns, Viet Nam continues to strengthen its position as a safe, stable, and attractive destination renowned for its rich cultural heritage, competitive travel costs, and continually improving service quality. The Government's continued implementation of favorable visa policies, expanded international air connectivity, strengthened international cooperation, and intensified tourism promotion in key source markets have further reinforced the country's appeal to international visitors.

Air travel remained the dominant mode of entry during the first half of 2026. Approximately 10.12 million visitors arrived by air, accounting for 82.6% of total international arrivals and representing an increase of 11.4% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, 1.92 million visitors entered by land, recording the strongest growth among all modes of transport at 37.5%, while arrivals by sea exceeded 209,000, up 15.2% year-on-year.

Figure 2. Top 10 source markets in the first 6 months of 2026 (thousands of arrivals)

China remained Viet Nam's largest inbound tourism market with 2.7 million visitors, followed by the Republic of Korea with 2.16 million. Together, these two markets accounted for approximately 40% of total international arrivals, reaffirming their role as the principal drivers of Viet Nam's inbound tourism.

The most outstanding performer was Russia, which continued its remarkable recovery with 742,700 visitors, soaring 185.8% compared to the first half of 2025 and firmly retaining its position as Viet Nam's third-largest international source market. After only six months, arrivals from Russia had already surpassed those from many traditional markets and were approaching pre-pandemic annual levels. This impressive growth reflects the successful restoration and expansion of direct air services, rising demand among Russian travelers for beach holidays, and Viet Nam's competitive advantages in climate, resort offerings, and travel affordability.

Among the remaining major source markets, Taiwan (China) recorded more than 638,000 visitors, followed by the United States with nearly 530,000, Cambodia with over 509,000, India with more than 491,000, and Japan with 442,000 arrivals.

Growth rate of international visitor arrivals from key source markets in the first half of 2026 (%)

Southeast Asia continued to emerge as one of the most dynamic drivers of inbound tourism growth. Among ASEAN markets, the Philippines recorded the fastest growth, increasing 67.6% year-on-year while maintaining its place among Viet Nam's 10 largest source markets. Other strong performers included Cambodia (+41.2%), Singapore (+29.4%), Indonesia (+26.5%), Malaysia (+23.4%), and Thailand (+10.0%). These results reflect the growing momentum of intra-ASEAN travel, supported by geographical proximity, extensive air connectivity, and increasingly convenient travel policies, making Southeast Asia an increasingly stable and sustainable source of visitors for Viet Nam.

In South Asia, India remained one of the brightest emerging markets, posting an impressive 45.6% increase. The expansion of direct flight connections in recent years, combined with proactive destination marketing, has significantly enhanced Viet Nam's visibility among Indian travelers. Given the current growth trajectory, welcoming around one million Indian visitors in 2026 is well within reach.

Europe recorded the strongest regional growth during the first half of the year, with arrivals increasing 56.1% year-on-year. In addition to the exceptional performance of the Russian market, many Western and Northern European markets continued to grow steadily, including Germany (+16.1%), France (+13.8%), the United Kingdom (+10.7%), Italy (+10.5%), Denmark (+18.6%), Sweden (+23.8%), Switzerland (+25.7%), the Czech Republic (+30.1%), and Poland (+52.1%). These markets benefit from Viet Nam's visa exemption policy and are characterized by higher visitor spending and longer average stays, contributing significantly to the quality and sustainability of tourism growth.

Long-haul markets also maintained solid momentum. Arrivals from the United States increased 18.0%, Canada rose 27.6%, while Australia and New Zealand recorded growth of 22.0% and 22.6%, respectively. These encouraging results underscore Viet Nam's growing appeal across global markets and the increasing diversification of its international visitor base.

Looking ahead, the tourism industry is well positioned for further growth as the traditional peak travel season from Northeast Asia, Europe, and North America begins in the third and fourth quarters. Combined with continued tourism promotion in key markets, the effective implementation of visa facilitation policies, expanded international air connectivity, and ongoing improvements in tourism products and service quality, the strong performance recorded in the first half of 2026 provides a solid foundation for achieving the target of welcoming 25 million international visitors this year, thereby making a significant contribution to Viet Nam's economic growth.

Tourism Information Technology Center