Vietnam received 1.85 million international visitors in October 2026, marking a 4.9% increase from September and a 7% rise compared to October 2025, the National Statistics Office reported. Total arrivals for the first ten months reached 19.5 million, up 13.8% year-on-year.
Strong Growth in Russian Tourist Arrivals
Russian tourist arrivals achieved significant growth in October, reaching 120,116 visitors, an 80.5% increase from the same month last year. Over the first ten months, Russia sent more than 1.25 million tourists to Vietnam, reflecting a 150% year-on-year spike. Despite a slight decrease from September to October, Russian arrivals remained a major contributor to Vietnam’s inbound tourism in 2026.
Performance of Other Asian Markets
China continued as Vietnam’s largest source market with 432,549 visitors in October 2026, showing a marginal 0.2% decline year-on-year. South Korea contributed 3.37 million visitors during January to October, down 6.3% year-on-year. Meanwhile, arrivals from Cambodia increased sharply by over 65% in October and 43.2% over the ten-month period. Filipino tourists numbered 579,199 in the first ten months, up 52.4%, while Indian visitors rose by 29.5% to 744,567, with October’s Indian arrivals at 73,595, increasing 4.6% from 2025.
Phu Quoc Ranks Top New Destination in Traveloka SEA Index
Phu Quoc Island led emerging tourist destinations on Traveloka’s SEA Index for October 2026, outperforming benchmark growth in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,
and Vietnam’s domestic travellers. The island’s tourism growth is linked to ongoing major construction projects and its scheduled hosting of the APEC summit in 2027. This development positions Phu Quoc as a rising hub for luxury and business tourism in the region.
BIGBANG Concerts Drive Tourism in Hanoi
Hanoi’s tourism industry experienced a boost from the two-night BIGBANG concert held at My Dinh National Stadium in October 2026. The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recorded approximately 220,000 visitors during the event and estimated tourism revenue at VND 750 billion. Demand for transportation, shopping, dining, and accommodation surged. Trip.com reported a 74% increase in Hanoi
flight bookings, and Traveloka noted a quadrupling in travel searches for the city. Hotel occupancy rates at three- to five-star properties ranged between 75% and 100% during the concert period.
Domestic Destination Growth and Upcoming APEC Summit
Vinh in Nghe An Province was Vietnam’s fastest-growing domestic destination, followed by Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Chu Lai, and Buon Ma Thuot. The approaching 2027 APEC summit on Phu Quoc Island is expected to stimulate further high-end tourism growth and infrastructure investment on the island, enhancing its status as a key destination.
