Number of international tourist arrivals (ITA) in Vietnam 2023, by country

In 2023, Vietnam welcomed almost 3.6 million South Korean tourist arrivals, the highest number of arrivals among all countries and territories, followed by Mainland China and Taiwan. In total, the country received around 12.6 million international tourist arrivals in 2023, a fourfold increase from the previous year, after the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism in Vietnam

Thanks to its long coastline, historical French colonial landmarks, many world heritage sites, and vibrant culture, Vietnam is an emerging destination in Southeast Asia. Since the country opened its door to the world in the late 1980s, tourism has grown in importance as a part of the modern Vietnamese economy. By 2028, the share of direct GDP contribution from the tourism sector is expected to reach over 7.4 percent, with international tourism receipts forecasted to reach over ten billion U.S. dollars that same year. Next to increasing international arrivals, domestic tourism had also been thriving as more Vietnamese could afford to travel.

Vietnam’s tourism industry rebound post-COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the growth track of the Vietnamese tourism industry. However, as the pandemic was brought under control and restrictions were lifted, the sector showed signs of rebound and was expected to regain its momentum by 2023. Thanks to the government’s efforts to promote tourism and improve domestic infrastructure, in 2023, the number of international tourist arrivals by all means of transportation went up by approximately 3.4 percent, contributing to the growth in revenue of the country's tourism sector that year.