Vietnam ranks among world’s top 5 fastest-growing tourist destinations
In the UN World Tourism Organization's rankings, Vietnam tops at the fifth place for receiving 17.5 million foreign visitors in 2024, up 38.6% on-year.
THE HANOI TIMES — Vietnam has solidified its status as a global tourism powerhouse, securing fifth place among the world’s fastest-growing tourist destinations, according to a report by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNTWO) dated August 25.
A foreign tourist buys souvenirs at the 2025 Hanoi Tourism Gifts Festival in April. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times
The data, which comprises tourism data across the world in 2024, shows that international arrivals to Vietnam surged by 38.6% year-on-year.
This remarkable growth rate places the country ahead of all its regional peers, including Thailand (26.3%, ranked 12th), Laos (25.3%, 13th), Malaysia (24.2%, 15th), Cambodia (22.9%, 16th), and Singapore (21.2%, 20th).
The global ranking is led by Uzbekistan (51.8%), the Republic of Korea (48.8%), Japan (47.1%), and Chile (40.4%).
In terms of international arrivals, Vietnam welcomed nearly 17.5 million visitors from abroad in 2024, earning it the 18th spot on the list of the world’s most-visited destinations.
The top ranking belongs to France with 102 million international guests, while Vietnam's rival Thailand ranked 10th globally with 35.5 million arrivals.
In January-July 2025, Vietnam received 12.2 million foreign visitors, up 22.5% year-on-year. The country targets 25 million international travelers this year.
Key drivers of Vietnam's tourism growth include a robust recovery in major source markets such as China and Japan. International tourists from these two countries increased by 45.7% and 18.2% on-year, respectively, during the first seven months.
European source markets made strong gains, including Russia (156.6%), Italia (25.9%), Poland (44.8%), and Switzerland (15.8%) thanks to tourism promotion programs and progressive visa policy reforms.
