With 12.2M tourists in 7 months 2025, Vietnam already matches 2023
Vietnam’s continuous process to relax visa policies is paying off quickly. The country welcomed over 12.2 million international visitors in the first 7 months of 2025. This represents a 22.5% jump from the same period last year. The figure nearly matches the 12.6 million arrivals recorded for all of 2023.
It signals the powerful dynamic of the tourism industry and putting Vietnam on track to hit its target of 25 million foreign visitors this year under Government Resolution 226, which looks at boosting tourism activities and promotion.
The Resolution, issued August 5, directs the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and local authorities to ramp up marketing initiatives. But also to ramp up standards for tourism.
Authorities speak about the necessity to diversify tourism products, safeguard quality standards for pricing, sanitation, and food safety. The Resolution also calls for stronger regional tourism links. And request to integrate more rapidly authentic handicraft fostered by the OCOP (One Commune One Product) program into tourism promotion.
Visa relaxed rules have a bold effect on arrivals
The Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must also work alongside tourism officials to design more flexible visa policies and streamline application processes. Current procedures such as e-visa and newly adopted visa waiver for tourist groups from the Czech Republic, Poland or Switzerland show results.
Last April, following a state visit to Belgium, Vietnamese prime minister Pham Minh Chinh announced the soon-to-come visa exemption for Belgian citizens. It is likely to happen before the high season in winter.
In fact, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) reported that July alone brought in 1.56 million foreign arrivals. This represents a growth of 6.8% year-over-year despite the traditional off-season. European markets were a standout, climbing 38%. This was a direct effect of relaxed visa requirements and targeted promotions in major European markets.
In July, tourist arrivals jumped 44.8% in Poland, 25.9% in Italy, 23.1% in France, 22.2% in the UK and 21.1% in Norway. Switzerland recorded also an increase of 15.8% last month. Meanwhile, Asian markets rose 22.4%, led by China’s 45.7% surge and Japan’s 18.2% growth. However South Korean arrivals dipped 2.5%.
In the first 7 months, China remained Vietnam’s top source market with 3.1 million visitors (25.5%). South Korea followed with 2.5 million (20.7%). Other key markets include Taiwan (737,000), the United States (522,000), and Japan (380,000). Rounding out the top ten are Cambodia, India, Australia, Russia, and Malaysia.
TravelMole Editorial Team
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