Vietnam Attracts 15.9 Million Visitors Through August 2026

Quick answer: Vietnam welcomed 15.91 million international visitors between January and August 2026, a 14.4% increase over the same period last year and the highest eight-month total on record. That puts the country at just over 63% of its full-year target of 25 million visitors. China and South Korea remain the two largest source markets, but Russia and several European countries are growing the fastest. Here’s what the numbers mean if you’re planning a trip.

The Numbers Through August 2026

• 15.91 million international arrivals from January through August 2026, up 14.4% year-on-year — the highest eight-month figure in recent years.
• Full-year target: 25 million visitors for 2026. The eight-month total already covers roughly 63.6% of that goal.
• 83.1% of visitors (about 13.22 million) arrived by air, with international flight connections up 11.6% year-on-year.

Where Visitors Are Coming From

Asia continues to dominate, accounting for roughly 74% of all arrivals (about 11.81 million visitors):

• China — 3.54 million visitors (22.3% of all arrivals), Vietnam’s single largest source market.
• South Korea — 2.76 million visitors (17.3%), the second-largest market.
• Russia — over 1 million visitors, up a striking 165.7% year-on-year, now the third-largest source market.

Europe was the fastest-growing region overall, with arrivals up 53.4% to roughly 2.68 million — Poland led the way at 51.2% growth, followed by the Czech Republic at 28.2%. Further afield, India brought around 612,000 visitors, the Philippines grew 58.8%, and arrivals from the Americas rose 20.7% to about 887,000.

What This Means If You’re Planning a Trip

• Popular cities and beach destinations will stay busy. With arrivals up double digits year-on-year, don’t expect Hanoi’s Old Quarter, Hoi An, or Da Nang’s beaches to feel quieter than in previous years — book accommodation and popular tours ahead, especially around peak season.
• Growth is broad-based, not concentrated in one market. The mix of Chinese, South Korean, Russian, and European travelers means Vietnam’s tourism infrastructure is adapting to a wider range of nationalities — expect more multilingual signage, menus, and services in major hubs.
• Flight capacity is expanding to match demand. With international air arrivals up over 11%, more direct routes and frequencies are being added — worth checking for new connections from your home country when booking.
• This is separate from the Long Thanh Airport transition. These visitor numbers reflect where people are arriving from, not which airport they’re landing at — see our Long Thanh Airport update for what’s changing on that front.

FAQ

How many tourists visited Vietnam in 2026?

15.91 million international visitors arrived between January and August 2026, a 14.4% increase over the same period in 2025. Vietnam’s full-year target is 25 million.

Which country sends the most tourists to Vietnam?

China is the largest source market with 3.54 million visitors through August 2026 (22.3% of all arrivals), followed by South Korea with 2.76 million (17.3%).

Why has Russian tourism to Vietnam grown so much?

Russian arrivals grew 165.7% year-on-year through August 2026, making Russia the third-largest source market at over 1 million visitors. This continues a trend of rapid growth reported earlier in the year — see our coverage of record Russian tourist numbers in Vietnam for more on what’s driving it.

Is Vietnam getting more crowded with tourists?

Arrival numbers are trending well above 2025 levels, so popular destinations are likely to feel at least as busy as in recent years. Booking accommodation and in-demand tours ahead of your trip is a reasonable precaution, particularly in Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Nang during peak season.

Sources: Vietnam’s tourism authorities and state media (VietnamPlus), January-August 2026 international arrival data.