By the end of this year Vietnam is estimated to receive 21.5 million foreign tourists, up 22% from last year, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
In 2019, the year before the onset of the Covid, Vietnam received 18 million foreign visitors, the highest number on record at the time.
In 2024 it received 17.6 million visitors.
Total tourism revenue next year is expected to reach VND1.125 trillion, an 11% increase compared to the VND1-trillion target for 2025.
Authorities believe the inbound tourism market still has significant growth potential thanks to relaxed visa policies.
Tourism industry insiders attributed Vietnam’s strong performance to sweeping visa reforms.
In March the government decided to extend visa exemptions until 2028 for citizens of 12 countries: Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Norway, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and the U.K.
In August it waived visa requirements for stays of up to 45 days for citizens of 12 more countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
This expanded the unilateral visa waiver list to 24 countries and the total number including bilateral waivers to 39.
Recently the government added 41 more international border gates where foreigners can use e-visas for entry and exit, bringing the total number of such entry points to 83.
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