HCMC – Vietnam recorded the fastest growth in international tourist arrivals in ASEAN in 2025, outperforming major regional destinations, according to data cited by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) from the ASEAN Secretariat.
International arrivals to Vietnam rose by 20.4% in 2025 from the previous year. This was well above growth rates in Malaysia (11.2%), Indonesia (10.4%), Singapore (2.7%) and the Philippines (0.8%). Several regional markets saw declines, including Thailand, down 7.2%, Cambodia, down 16.9%, and Myanmar, down 8%.
The strong performance aligns with assessments by UN Tourism, which ranked Vietnam among the fastest-growing tourism markets in the Asia-Pacific region.
Driven by the sharp increase in arrivals, Vietnam’s tourism market continued to expand in scale. The country attracted about 21.2 million international visitors in 2025, surpassing Singapore and Indonesia. This placed Vietnam third in ASEAN, behind Malaysia with 42 million arrivals and Thailand with 33 million.
VNAT attributed part of the growth to the easing of visa requirements. These included expanded visa exemptions, longer permitted stays, and simplified entry and exit procedures, which made travel to Vietnam easier for foreign visitors.
Tourism promotion efforts were also intensified in 2025. Vietnam increased participation in international travel fairs and events, organized destination roadshows in key markets, and stepped up digital marketing to reach a broader audience.
International tourism awards and rising online search interest related to travel to Vietnam further improved the country’s visibility and recognition as a destination.
Vietnam’s tourism sector has set a target of welcoming 25 million international visitors this year.
