HCMC – Vietnam welcomed its 20 millionth international visitor this year at a ceremony held on December 15 at Phu Quoc International Airport, marking a milestone for the country’s tourism sector.
The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the government of An Giang Province. It is the first time in 65 years that Vietnam’s tourism industry has recorded 20 million international arrivals in a single year.
Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong said international arrivals to Vietnam in 2025 rose by around 21% year-on-year. The growth rate far exceeded the global tourism average of about 5% and the Asia-Pacific average of 8%.
Compared with pre-pandemic levels, Vietnam’s tourism recovery has surpassed 110%, while global tourism has recovered to around 90%, according to the ministry.
The strong rebound reflects several factors, including the appeal of Vietnam as a destination, visa facilitation policies, improved safety conditions, and efforts to upgrade tourism infrastructure, services, and visitor experiences.
Passengers arriving on the flight were greeted at the aircraft with flowers and complimentary tickets to the “Kiss of the Sea” show at Sunset Town on Phu Quoc. Special gifts were presented to the 19,999,999th, 20,000,000th, and 20,000,001st international visitors.
Vietnam aims to attract 25 million international tourists in 2025. The peak season for international arrivals typically runs from October through April.
