The year 2025 marks a significant resurgence for Vietnam's tourism sector, particularly during the Tet Nguyen Dan celebrations, as international interest surges. According to data released by Agoda, the world's leading online travel booking platform, searches for accommodations by international tourists have skyrocketed by 139% compared to the same period last year. Notably, travelers from China have demonstrated remarkable enthusiasm, reporting almost a 300% increase.
This spike signifies positive momentum for Vietnam’s tourism goals, with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism aiming to welcome 22 million foreign visitors by 2025. Phu Quoc Island stands out as the most sought-after destination among international travelers for Tet 2025, with accommodation searches soaring by 266% compared to 2024. Other popular destinations include Da Nang, showing a 119% increase, and Nha Trang, which saw a 104% rise.
The exhilarating growth of the Vietnamese tourism industry follows the upward trend observed throughout 2024, where nearly 17.6 million international visitors arrived, representing a notable increase of 39.5% from the previous year. This marked the country's tourism recovery, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels from 2019. The data gathered also highlights the February month as the highest for inbound tourism, with around 1.75 million arrivals recorded.
Vu Ngoc Lam, Country Director of Agoda Vietnam, stated, "Lượng tìm kiếm chỗ ở từ khách quốc tế tăng 139% so với cùng kỳ năm ngoái," emphasizing the dramatic rise. He added, "Lượng khách từ Trung Quốc tăng gần 300%," reinforcing the significant influx of Chinese tourists. Lam credited this growth to collaborative marketing efforts, including enhanced digital campaigns aimed at international markets.
Agoda's data also revealed impressive figures for other Asian markets. Searches from Korea increased by 94%, and Taiwanese visitors reported a 123% rise. This surge signifies the successful outreach by Vietnamese tour operators, who have actively participated in promotional campaigns, showcasing Vietnam as an attractive destination during the Tet festivities.
Domestically, the popularity of internal travel destinations remains strong. Da Lat continues to be the first choice for Vietnamese travelers, with search interest rising by 167% compared to last year. Following closely behind are Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, which enjoyed increases of 88% and 89%, respectively.
Looking outward, Vietnamese travelers have shown growing interest in international destinations this Tet, favoring Bangkok, Singapore, and Tokyo. Interestingly, Tokyo experienced substantial growth among these outbound searches, with increased interest of 193%, pushing it past Bali as the favored overseas destination for the Vietnamese during this time.
The findings from Agoda underline Vietnam's appeal on multiple fronts—both as a destination for international visitors and as the travel choice for its citizens seeking experiences abroad. The Vietnamese government and various tourism entities are expected to capitalize on this momentum, often leveraging social media platforms and engaging tourism fairs to attract even more visitors.
Phu Quoc, often referred to as the 'Emerald Island,' is seeing the fruits of these efforts as it positions itself strategically. Already, the island welcomed over 960,000 international guests last year, which is up 73% compared to the previous year, exceeding both market projections and boosting local businesses significantly.
Local tourist businesses are reportedly experiencing full bookings, especially as many hotels on the island are already at capacity. Residents express excitement, noting, "ra đường là thấy khách nước ngoài," indicating the visible presence of foreign tourists as they explore the island.
With undeniable optimism, the tourism sector is entering the new year buoyed by these growth metrics. The combined efforts of both public and private sectors have laid the groundwork for what promises to be one of the most vibrant tourism seasons yet.
All indicators point to Vietnams tourism industry continuing on this upward trend, with the potential to surpass set goals for international arrivals and showcase the country's rich culture, diverse attractions, and warm hospitality to the world. 2025 is shaping up to be the year of not just recovery but exponential growth for Vietnam's travel and tourism sector.