Why foreign tourist numbers soared to record high in January

By Phuong Anh February 12, 2025 | 03:08 pm PT

A group of Polish tourists receive lucky money in red envelopes, a long-standing tradition in Vietnam during Tet, at a restaurant in HCMC, January 2025. Photo by Minh Anh

The return of Chinese visitors, easing of visa rules and increased tourism campaigns brought a record number of foreign visitors to Vietnam in January, travel industry insiders said.

There were nearly 2.1 million foreign tourists, a 36.9% increase from January 2024 and the highest monthly figure ever, according to the General Statistics Office.

The number of Chinese tourists, with over 575,000 arriving and surpassing South Koreans to climb to the top of the list, was the chief reason for the record figure.

Pham Hai Quynh, director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, said the Lunar New Year falling in January this year was a major attraction for foreign visitors interested in experiencing Vietnamese culture and traditions.

During the holiday period (Jan. 25 - Feb. 2), several destinations, including Hanoi, HCMC, Da Nang, Ninh Binh, and Phu Quoc, attracted a large number of foreign tourists.

Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of Hanoi-based AZA Travel, said loosening of visa policies also played a crucial role in boosting tourism.

Vietnam now waives visas for visitors from 27 countries.

Since August 2023 it has tripled the duration of stay to 45 days for citizens of 13 of those countries.

From Nov. 11 2024, it launched a new online portal, making it easier for foreign travelers to apply for e-visas.

With effect from Jan. 30 this year Vietnam and Belarus have waived visas for each other's ordinary passport holder.

Tourism promotion has for long been a weak point for Vietnam, but it has recently made improvements, which too have contributed to the record-breaking visitor numbers.

"The industry is now doing better in this regard," Dat said.

"Promotional activities have become more diverse and targeted at key tourist markets."

With its easy visa policies continuing, Vietnam expects to remain an attractive destination for travelers and targets 22-23 million foreign arrivals this year after welcoming 17.6 million last year.