Vietnam led the region with a 30% increase in international arrivals compared to Q1 2024, and ranked second in terms of recovery rate, with a 34% rise over the same period in 2019.
International tourists delighted to receive Vietnam’s flags while exploring Ho Chi Minh City attractions. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam recorded t♎he highest growth in international tourist arrivals in the Asia–Pacific region durin♌g the first quarter of 2025, according to the May edition of the World Tourism Barometer released by the United Nations Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism).
Vietnam led the region with a 30% increase in international arrivals compared to Q1 2024, and ranked second in terms of recovery rate, with a 34% rise over the same period in 2019.
Globally, Vietnam ranked sixth in international visitor growth, up 30% year-on-year and placed fourth in tourism revenue growth, with a 29% increase compared to Q1 2024.
This remarkable performance has made Vietnam a standout in the region, especially as Asia–Pacific continues to face headwinds and strives to regain pre-COVID-19 pandemic momentum.
The UN Tourism report noted that over 300 million international tourist arrivals were recorded worldwide in Q1, an increase of more than 14 million compared to the same period in 2024, equivalent to a 5% rise year-on-year and 3% above Q1 2019 levels.
Regionally, Europe remained the world’s leading destination, welcoming 125 million international visitors in the first three months of 2025, up 2% year-on-year. Asia–Pacific posted the highest growth rate at 12%.
In terms of recovery compared to Q1 2019, the Middle East led all regions, reaching 144% of pre-pandemic levels. Asia–Pacific reached 91%, signaling steady progress in its post-COVID rebound.
Despite ongoing challenges and cautious outlooks, UN Tourism has maintained its global forecast for tourism growth in 2025 at between 3% and 5%./.
Mongolia and Vietnam are the top two foreign destinations for Korean travelers during the 2025 summer holiday season, with flight booking data showing Mongolia accounting for 18.3% and Vietnam 16.8% of total reservations.
The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, in coordination with the Vietnam Tourism Development Fund, the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, and Vietnam Airlines, hosted a tourism promotion event in Munich on June 30.
In line with guidance from the Government Office and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the capital has assigned its Department of Agriculture and Environment to raise public awareness and disseminate legal knowledge on biodiversity conservation and resource use.
To encourage domestic visitors, the Tourism Department has launched the 2025 tourism promotion scheme themed "Hanoians and Tourists Experience Four- and Five-Star Hotel Services in Hanoi", with a special focus on the week leading up to Vietnam Family Day (June 28).
The show's popularity is continuously going viral on social media in Vietnam, with a record of over 13 million views on YouTube after its first five episodes.
The H1 figure stood at 49% of the full-year target of 22-23 million tourists, but it should be noted that the peak international tourism season in Vietnam lasts from October to March.
In the Best Islands category, Phu Quoc was the sole representative from Vietnam, ranked third among the top ten islands. This achievement adds to Phu Quoc’s list of international accolades over the past two years.
Australian journalist and photographer Ronan O’Connell has visited Vietnam 19 times over the past 18 years as he is lured by the country’s diverse charm, lively atmosphere, and hospitality.
Over 50 Vietnamese and Japanese travel firms and tourism authorities gathered at a tourism promotion seminar in Hanoi on July 2 to showcase their products, exchange market insights, and strengthen practical and effective cooperation between the two countries.
Running from July to August, “Find your flavour” aims to become a key offering of this summer by integrating activities such as food passports, interactive games, videos, and all-in-one culinary city tours in partnership with local travel agencies and restaurants.
Each summer, Bac Giang welcomes not just the fruit harvest, but also a wave of visitors eager to explore its landscape and culture. Once a purely agricultural product, lychees are increasingly becoming a signature feature of sustainable tourism in the region.
Localities like Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, and Ninh Binh, when reorganised, could form a new growth pole, leveraging their combined potential in ecological, historical, and spiritual tourism.
Gulf News, one of two English-language daily publications in the Persian Gulf region, listed the main reasons for its destination picks as being a mix of iconic cities, cultural treasures, tropical escapes, and foodie havens.
With the country rapidly advancing its plan to merge provincial-level administrative units, set to be completed by mid-August, the tourism industry, along with other sectors, is presented with challenges but also significant opportunities for innovation and sustainable growth in the era of the nation's rise.
Located at an altitude of over 1,500 metres above sea level, Sapa is dubbed the “Switzerland of Vietnam” for its temperate climate, breathtaking scenery, and European-inspired architecture.
A quick search for “Vietnam is calling” on TikTok reveals a myriad of clips capturing the excitement of visitors setting off for Vietnam, with short videos showing tourists holding their passports, wheeling their suitcases through airports or exploring Vietnam’s scenic landscapes, diverse cuisine and unique culture - all set to upbeat, catchy soundtracks.
The number of visitors increased by 4.1% compared to the same period last year, while total tourism revenue surged by 48.8%, or nearly 88% of the year’s target.
“There is no more atmospheric way to haul into Vietnam’s twin metropolises as this train rattles through historic cities and swooshes beside spectacular coastlines,” according to Lonely Planet.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
Plastic waste in tourism may seem like a minor issue, but on the path toward sustainable development, it is not. The environmental repercussions of this pollution menace not only tarnish the image of destinations and diminish national competitiveness but also result in far-reaching and unpredictable consequences.
