In November, Vietnam welcomed 1.23 million foreign visitors, marking the highest monthly figure since the country reopened its borders in March of the previous year following the onset of Covid. The cumulative number of arrivals for the year has surpassed 11.2 million, significantly surpassing the initial full-year target of eight million, as reported by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism. The country is now aiming for a total of 13 million visitors by the end of the year.
Notably, Europe witnessed the most substantial month-on-month growth in November at 58.5%. All European countries benefiting from visa waivers experienced notable increases, with France (73%) and Sweden (85%) leading the surge. South Korea maintained its position as the largest source of tourists, contributing 3.2 million visitors this year, followed by mainland China (1.5 million), Taiwan (758,000), the U.S. (658,000), and Japan (527,000).
Rounding off the top 10 are Thailand (442,000), Malaysia (419,000), Cambodia (359,000), Australia (353,000), and India (352,000). The tourism landscape in Southeast Asia has intensified in recent weeks, with several countries easing visa policies. Malaysia, for instance, announced a 30-day visa-free entry for tourists from China and India starting from December 1, following Thailand’s similar waiver a month earlier. Vietnamese tourism stakeholders and officials have also advocated for visa waivers for tourists from China and India.
Comparatively, Thailand and Malaysia have seen 23.2 million and 14 million foreign visitors, respectively, throughout the current year.