October recorded the return of a series of Vietnam’s largest tourist markets such as China, Korea, the US, and Australia, with a growth rate of 10-24%.
According to data from the Department of Statistics on the morning of November 6, in October alone, the total number of international visitors to Vietnam was nearly 1.73 million, up 22% over the same period in 2024 and up 13% over September.
In September, the number of visitors in many important markets decreased, but in October, the Vietnamese tourism industry witnessed strong growth in these markets. Accordingly, 8/10 markets sending the largest visitors to Vietnam all grew, from 10-24% compared to September, including: Mainland China, Korea, Taiwan, USA, Cambodia, India, Russia, Thailand.
The two markets in the top 10 decreasing are Japan (down 24%) and Malaysia (down 20%).
Mainland China is still the “golden egg” for the Vietnamese tourism industry, topping the list of the largest tourist sending market in October with more than 433,000 visitors, accounting for 40% of the total number of international visitors. South Korea ranked second with 360,000 visits, followed by Taiwan with more than 106,000 visits.
October also recorded a spectacular return of the Thai tourist market after many consecutive months of decline. With more than 47,000 visitors and a 23% growth compared to September, Thailand overtook Australia in the list of top 10 markets sending visitors to Vietnam in October.
Tourists visit Hoi An ancient town in early November 2025. Image: Nguyen Dong
In terms of growth motivation, Russia is the market with the largest increase when the number of visitors to Vietnam in October this year is estimated to reach more than 66,000 and increased 3.6 times compared to the same period last year. The markets with the next highest growth momentum include India and the Philippines (both 1.7 times), Cambodia (1.5 times) and mainland China (1.4 times).
According to Vietnamese tourism experts, the number of Chinese and Korean tourists returning in October is higher than in September, partly due to the long holidays of their countries. China has an 8-day golden week in early October, while Korea experiences the most important Chuseok holiday of the year. Due to many holidays, more tourists from these two destinations travel.
According to Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute Pham Hai Quynh, October is the start of the international tourism season, bringing in the number of visitors from various markets. The growth of 13% compared to September and 22% compared to the same period in 2024 is clear evidence of the effectiveness of the open visa policies and promotional campaigns that have been implemented. The number of visitors maintained at a high level and the sudden growth shows that Vietnam’s attractiveness and competitiveness have improved significantly compared to regional competitors, consolidating its position as one of Asia’s leading destinations.
By 2025, Vietnam strives to reach 25 million international visitors. In the first 10 months of the year, Vietnam welcomed 17.2 million visitors, equal to 68% of the set target.