Vietnam’s international tourist arrivals reached 12.7 million in the first nine months of 2024, surpassing last year’s total, with the goal of 18 million visitors in sight.
Vietnam welcomed over 12.7 million international visitors in the first nine months of 2024, surpassing the total of 12.6 million arrivals recorded for the whole of 2023. According to data from the General Statistics Office, September alone saw 1.27 million international visitors, slightly lower than August's 1.43 million.

Despite the September dip, the third quarter remained strong with over 3.8 million international visitors. Year-to-date figures show a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2023, highlighting a strong post-pandemic recovery for Vietnam’s tourism sector.

Air Travel Leads the Surge
Air arrivals made up the bulk of international visitors, with nearly 10.8 million travelers arriving by air, accounting for 84.9% of the total and marking a 38.7% year-on-year increase. Land arrivals contributed 13.8% of the total, with nearly 1.8 million visitors, reflecting a 68.1% rise.

Top Source Markets
South Korea remained the largest source market for Vietnam, with over 355,000 South Korean visitors in September. Mainland China followed with more than 257,000 arrivals. Other major markets included Taiwan, Japan, and the United States. India, in particular, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets, driven by high-profile events hosted by Indian elites and aggressive tourism promotion campaigns in the country.

Regional Breakdown of Visitors
Asian travelers dominated Vietnam’s international tourism landscape, with over 10.12 million visitors from the region, up by 47.7% year-on-year. Europe contributed over 1.4 million arrivals, reflecting a 40% increase, while the Americas added 736,600 visitors, a rise of 7.9%. Oceania sent 391,300 tourists (up 25.8%), and Africa saw the most significant increase, with 38,800 arrivals—up a remarkable 90.7% compared to the previous year.

Targeting 17-18 Million Visitors in 2024
Despite the slight decline in September, Vietnam's tourism industry is confident in reaching its 2024 goal of welcoming 17-18 million international visitors. The final three months of the year are typically the peak season for inbound tourism, further boosting the likelihood of achieving this target.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has been actively promoting Vietnam as a prime destination. One notable initiative was a tourism and cinema promotion program in the United States, held from September 23 to 25 under the theme "Vietnam - A New Destination for World Cinema." This program aimed to attract Hollywood studios to film in Vietnam, leveraging the country’s scenic landscapes as future movie sets to garner international media attention and promote tourism.

Recovery Amid Challenges
The tourism industry in northern Vietnam is also bouncing back from disruptions caused by Typhoon Yagi, which impacted the country in early September. As recovery efforts continue, the industry remains on track to meet its ambitious targets for 2024.