Vietnam is an emerging destination in Asia popular with Australian tourists, especially when the AUD exchange rate is at its highest level in 5 years.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows that the number of trips to Vietnam increased by 16% in the 12 months to February 2026, with nearly 530,000 Australian visitors entering the country, achieving the largest growth compared to other destinations. The next places with the highest increase are China (15.9%), Japan (15.6%).
Tristan Dakin, Country Director in Australia of Wise Money Transfer Company, said that the strength of the AUD at a 5-year high is the main driving force behind Vietnam “quickly becoming one of the most attractive destinations”.
Currently, the number of Australian visitors to Vietnam has also peaked in the past 5 years, increasing by about 15% after two years. According to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Australia ranks 9th in the largest tourist sending markets with more than 174,000 arrivals.
Two international tourists fly kites in Khanh Hoa. Image: Bui Toan
Geographic diversity and proximity to Australia are factors that create Vietnam’s appeal, according to Mr. Dakin.
Flights between the two countries currently take about 8.5 hours. He commented that Vietnam offers diversity in landscapes, beaches, cafe culture and street food. This makes it easy for travelers to customize their itineraries, from budget beach vacations to adventurous trips.
“Low accommodation costs help tourists have a good experience without having to think twice,” Mr. Dakin said.
However, Wise company notes that ATM withdrawal fees in Vietnam are among the highest in the world, about 27%. To reduce costs, Mr. Dakin suggests that tourists should withdraw large amounts of money in each transaction and choose to pay in Vietnamese Dong instead of AUD to avoid surcharges.
This expert predicts that Vietnam will continue to be a priority destination for Australians if their local currency maintains its strength and cost pressures dominate travel decisions.
Data from Flight Center Travel Group (FCTG) shows that bookings to Vietnam in the first quarter increased by 24% over the same period last year.
Mr. James Kavanagh, CEO of FCTG’s entertainment segment, said that increasing flight capacity will continue to boost this demand. Last year, Vietjet increased flight frequency from Hanoi to Australia and it is expected that in June, Vietnam Airlines will add flights to Melbourne.
Foreign tourists row at Man Thai beach, Da Nang, April 2026. Image: Giang Huy
Vietnam has transformed from an emerging destination to a top choice in a short time, according to Mr. Kavanagh.
FCTG representatives likened Vietnam to Japan when it meets the criteria for an ideal vacation for Australians such as good exchange rates, cheap tickets, delicious food and attractive destinations.
Luxury Escapes travel company in Melbourne said the number of bookings to Vietnam in the first three months of the year increased by more than 50% over the same period last year, with the most popular being Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Da Nang and Hanoi.
CEO Adam Schwab said that Vietnam’s popularity with Australian tourists is increasing exponentially. He believes that the value tourists receive here from the cuisine to the landscape of Ha Long Bay is difficult to match anywhere else.
Analysis by the Australian Tourism Industry Association (ATIA) shows that the trend of tourists in this country is shifting from the US to Asia. Although the total number of Australian visitors traveling internationally increased by 6.2% with 12.6 million trips as of February, the number of visitors to the US decreased by 4.8%.
ATIA CEO Dean Long explained that this change comes from the fact that travel costs to the US are currently much higher than to Asian countries.