Vietnam's tourism industry has recently surged, gaining significant international recognition and anticipation for future growth potential. The country's remarkable achievements were highlighted when Tripadvisor announced its 2025 Travelers' Choice Awards, where Vietnam was honored across several categories, demonstrating its increasing popularity as a destination worldwide.
According to Tripadvisor, Vietnam garnered acknowledgment for being among the top global destinations, affirming its status as a prime location for travelers seeking both adventure and relaxation. This accolade marks another milestone for the nation, which has been working diligently to revitalize its tourism sector following the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
On February 24, 2025, Da Nang welcomed 2,400 international tourists who arrived at Tien Sa Port aboard the Adora Cruise from Guangzhou, China. This cruise brand is renowned as the largest of its kind from China, with capacity akin to major cruise lines such as Costa and Royal Caribbean. Upon arrival, these tourists participated in various exploration tours throughout the city, including tours to Da Nang City, Sun World Ba Na Hills, and Hoi An. These experiences are crafted to showcase the best of what Da Nang has to offer, mirroring the city's blend of modern attractions and cultural richness.
The surge of cruise passengers highlights the city’s strategy to embrace and promote maritime tourism effectively. The Da Nang Tourism Promotion Center has proposed several measures targeting cruise travelers and enhancing their experience. By the end of 2024, Da Nang received 35 cruise ships, bringing 42,500 visitors—a remarkable 2.3-fold increase compared to 2023. For 2025, forecasts from Da Nang Port suggest the city will welcome 76 cruise ships, with expected arrivals surpassing 70,000, reflecting a projected growth of approximately 64% compared to last year.
To cater to international visitors arriving via sea, the city has implemented collaborative efforts with various stakeholders to improve tourist amenities. These include enhancing security measures, the organization of transportation services at Tien Sa Port, providing informative tourism brochures, and addressing visitors’ needs to guarantee seamless experiences.
January 2025 marked another significant uptick for the tourism sector, with accommodation facilities reporting over 719,000 visitors, symbolizing a 19% increase compared to January 2024. Among these, more than 393,000 were international tourists—a staggering 29% increase from the previous year—indicating Vietnam's growing allure, particularly among Chinese travelers, who make up the second-largest group of international arrivals at Da Nang.
Overall, domestic tourism also saw substantial growth. An estimated 326,000 domestic travelers visited Da Nang, reflecting a 9% increase from last year. Revenue from lodging, food services, and tours reached approximately 2.6 trillion VND, marking an 18% rise compared to January 2024, and aligning to 132% of the revenue levels observed during the same period pre-pandemic.
Further insights from Google reveal soaring international interest, with online searches for lodging opportunities across Vietnam seeing increases of 15% to 30% from late November 2024 through the end of January 2025. This trend appears to escalate, as search volumes climbed by 30% to 45% during the early half of February 2025. Notably, Chinese visitors alone accounted for 575,000 arrivals, cementing their status as the leading demographic for incoming travelers to Vietnam.
Efforts to promote maritime travel and improve the welcome experience for tourists could see Da Nang achieve its projected goal of hosting 4.8 million international visitors in 2025, which would represent over 17% growth compared to the 2024 figures. The city’s commitment to maximizing its potential as a premier travel destination reflects Vietnam's broader ambitions to recover and thrive within the global tourism market.
With accolades such as the Travelers' Choice Awards enhancing Vietnam's visibility globally and local initiatives fostering appealing tourism environments, the sector is poised for remarkable advancements. The commitment to diversifying tourist offerings and catering to international preferences encapsulates Vietnam's drive to not just regain but also redefine its place within the world’s tourism experiences.