Vietnam emerges as top global tourism performer in 2025

Vietnam welcomed nearly 21.2 million foreign arrivals in 2025, marking a stellar 20.4% increase from 2024 and surpassing 2019 pre-pandemic levels by 19%.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, this growth cements the country’s position in the global top-tier of tourism recovery and expansion.

The nation's performance significantly outpaced the global average growth of 4% and the Asia-Pacific average of 6%. Vietnam joined an elite group of destinations achieving double-digit growth, alongside Brazil (37%), Saudi Arabia (20%), and Japan (17%).

This surge is primarily attributed to increasingly flexible visa policies, a robust expansion of international flight routes, and modernised promotional strategies.

The latest report from UN Tourism reveals that global international tourism reached 1.52 billion arrivals in 2025. UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Alnuwais noted that demand remained high throughout the year despite inflation and geopolitical uncertainties. International tourism receipts hit approximately 1.9 trillion USD, while total export value from tourism reached a record 2.2 trillion USD.

Europe remained the world’s most visited region, welcoming 793 million arrivals. The Asia-Pacific region followed with 331 million visitors, a 6% year-on-year increase, though it has only recovered to 91% of its 2019 volume. Within the region, Northeast Asia led with 13% growth, while South Asia has fully returned to pre-pandemic levels.

For 2026, UN Tourism forecasts a further rise of 3-4%. Momentum is expected from major global events, including the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and the FIFA World Cup in North America.

However, the organisation cautioned that geopolitical risks, trade tensions, and extreme weather remain potential headwinds for the industry’s continued prosperity.