According to the latest data released by the Statistics Department of Vietnam, Vietnam received nearly 2.1 million foreign tourists in March 2026, a 1.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025. In the first quarter of 2026, the country received a total of 6.76 million foreign tourists, a significant year-on-year increase of 12.4%, setting a new record for the highest number of foreign tourists received in the first quarter of any year, indicating a strong recovery in the tourism industry.
In terms of entry channels, air travel remains the primary mode of transportation for foreign tourists to Vietnam. In the first quarter, 5.56 million tourists arrived by air, accounting for 82.3% of the total number of foreign tourists, a year-on-year increase of 7%. Land entry performed exceptionally well, totaling 1.05 million tourists, accounting for 15.5%, a surge of 53.1% year-on-year, making it the fastest-growing entry channel. Tourists arriving by ship numbered 148,200, accounting for 2.2%, a year-on-year increase of 11.4%, with all channels achieving steady growth. The General Statistics Office of Vietnam analyzed that this positive trend is due to a confluence of favorable factors: Vietnam's stable and secure socio-political environment has laid a solid foundation for tourism development; increasingly relaxed visa policies have lowered entry barriers; professional international tourism promotion activities have expanded the destination's influence; diversified tourism products that meet market trends satisfy the needs of different tourists; and the continuous improvement in the quality of tourism services have all created favorable conditions for attracting foreign tourists.
In 2026, Vietnam's tourism industry has set a breakthrough development target: to attract 25 million foreign tourists and 150 million domestic tourists, achieving a total tourism revenue of VND 1.125 trillion. The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism stated that this target is based on the rapid development of the tourism industry in recent years—currently, the average annual growth rate of foreign tourists to Vietnam is approximately 22%, which is not only far higher than the global average of 5% but also significantly exceeds the average growth rate of 8% in the Asia-Pacific region. It is noteworthy that Vietnam's tourism industry recovery is significantly ahead of the regional average: compared to pre-pandemic levels, Vietnam's tourism industry has now recovered to over 110%, while the overall recovery rate for the Asia-Pacific tourism industry is only about 90%. (End)
