Why Russian tourists are flocking to Vietnam

Russia saw the highest growth of all foreign arrivals to Vietnam during the first half of this year, with a 239% year-on-year increase.

Between January and June, Vietnam received over 260,000 Russian visitors, surpassing last year's figure of 232,000, making it the 10th largest source of foreign visitors.

There are various reasons for Russian tourists' growth in Vietnam, from policy to infrastructure.

In March, the Vietnamese government extended visa waivers for citizens of 12 countries, including Russia, until 2028.

Convenient flight routes and competitive tour prices are also contributing factors, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

In May, Vietnam Airlines resumed direct flights between Hanoi and Moscow after a three-year hiatus due to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Anex Vietnam, a company specializing in tours from Russia, operates charter flights from 11 Russian cities to Cam Ranh. The number of flights increased to 50-55 per month between April and June, with plans to ramp them up to 90-100 flights from July.

Azur Air, a Russian airline, began flights to Khanh Hoa, home to Nha Trang, in late February, with departure points from major Russian cities including Moscow, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Siberia, and the Far East.

Russian tourists at a resort in Khanh Hoa Province in central Vietnam in 2019. Photo courtesy of Anex Vietnam

Vietnam's tropical climate, with warm sunshine year-round in coastal destinations like Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc, makes it an ideal winter escape for Russian tourists. Many restaurants and hotels in popular tourist areas now offer Russian menus and employ Russian-speaking staff, insiders said.

Before the Covid pandemic, Russia was consistently one of the top markets sending tourists to Vietnam.

With this growth momentum, Vietnam is expected to attract around 430,000 Russian visitors in 2025, nearly double the number in 2024, and is moving toward recovering the peak of 650,000 visitors seen in 2019.

According to Russian media, Vietnam has become the fastest-growing tourist destination in Southeast Asia for Russian tourists, surpassing Thailand, which has long been the region's leading destination.