As Vietnam successfully attracted almost sixteen million foreign tourists during the first eight months of this year, Russia and the Philippines have emerged as the fast-growing tourist markets at 166% and 58% respectively, according to a VnExpress news report.
To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of VnExpress. Some parts in boldface…
Tourist arrivals from Russia and the Philippines surged 166% and 58%, respectively, in the first eight months, as Vietnam recorded nearly 16 million international visitors, up more than 14% year-on-year.
The rise in Russian tourists has made Russia the largest European market and the third largest source of international arrivals to Vietnam this year, with around 1 million visitors, only after mainland China (3.5 million) and South Korea (2.8 million).
Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of AZA Travel, said: “Russian tourists enjoy swimming, sunbathing, eating seafood, and relaxing at resorts. Vietnam fully meets these needs, so it is understandable why they are visiting in large numbers,” Dat says.
Kristina Zagumennaya, director of a Russian travel agency, told the Russian news agency Sputnik in early August that Russian tourist flows are shifting between markets. While Turkey remains the top choice, Vietnam and China have recorded outstanding growth.
“Vietnam stands out as a popular choice this tourist season,” Zagumennaya said, noting that multiple charter flights are operating to destinations across the country to meet demand for both beach holidays and cultural tourism.
In addition to charter flights, Vietnam Airlines increased the frequency of its direct Hanoi-Moscow route from three to four flights per week starting in July.
Ranking behind Russia, the Philippines also showed notable growth, despite not being a prominent source market for Vietnamese tourism prior to 2025.
Filipino visitors have risen to nearly 470,000 this year, among the 10 largest group of foreign visitors to Vietnam.
Bui Thanh Tu, marketing director of BestPrice Travel, attributes this rise to more convenient flight routes, especially from Manila and Cebu, competitive costs, and tourism products that differ from the island destinations familiar to Filipinos.
He also cites the viral impact of TikTok and YouTube videos featuring Hanoi, Sa Pa, Da Nang, and Hoi An.
Let me end this piece by asking you readers: What is your reaction to this development? Do you find it surprising that Russia and the Philippines became the fastest growing tourist markets for Vietnam? Do you think it is only a matter of time before Vietnam could someday attract at least 30 million foreign tourists per year?
You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.
+++++
Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco
Author Carlo Carrasco 