Foreign tourists visit HCM City. The country’s biggest city led in the number of visitors, welcoming approximately 2.1 million tourists. Photo tphcm.chinhphu.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam's tourism industry experienced a significant boost during the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday, with a sharp rise in both domestic and international visitors.

During the nine-day holiday, localities across the country welcomed nearly 12.5 million domestic travellers, a 19 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. Several provinces and cities recorded tourism revenues exceeding VNĐ1 trillion.

Popular destinations such as Hồ Chí Minh City, Đà Lạt, Nha Trang, Phú Quốc, Đà Nẵng, Vũng Tàu, Hà Nội, Mũi Né, Hội An, and Sa Pa saw a high influx of visitors. Northern mountainous regions also attracted large numbers of travellers from the south, while independent travel, small group tours, and self-arranged services continued to be popular trends.

Hồ Chí Minh City led in the number of visitors, welcoming approximately 2.1 million tourists, a 16.7 per cent increase year-on-year, generating an estimated VNĐ7.69 trillion (US$305.4 million) in tourism revenue, up 17.4 per cent. Hà Nội received around 1 million visitors, a 6 per cent rise, with revenue reaching VNĐ3.53 trillion ($140.2 million), an increase of 7.85 per cent.

Quảng Ninh and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu also saw substantial growth, with tourist arrivals rising by 21 per cent and 27.09 per cent, respectively. Other destinations, including Khánh Hòa, Thanh Hóa, Kiên Giang, and Đà Nẵng, recorded significant increases in both visitor numbers and revenue.

Hotel occupancy rates were notably high during peak days. Sa Pa reached 90-95 per cent, while Kiên Giang recorded 73.4 per cent. Other major destinations also saw strong demand, with Hồ Chí Minh City at 65 per cent, Huế at 63 per cent, Phú Yên at 62 per cent, and Đà Nẵng at 50 per cent.

International arrivals also surged, driven by favourable visa policies and enhanced promotional efforts. Quảng Ninh welcomed approximately 228,700 foreign visitors, followed by Đà Nẵng with over 228,000, Quảng Nam with 157,000, Hà Nội with 142,000, and Hồ Chí Minh City with 87,358.

Major travel agencies such as Hanoitourist, Saigontourist, Vietravel, and Benthanhtourist introduced new tourism products and promotional programmes, leveraging regional strengths and encouraging a “one journey, multiple destinations” approach to boost revenue.

The holiday also saw increased international cruise tourism. Đà Nẵng welcomed Crystal Symphony and Silver Dawn, carrying 1,800 American and British passengers. Quảng Ninh received four cruise liners – Mediteranea, Celebrity Solstice, Silver Dawn, and Crystal Symphony – bringing 6,000 passengers and 4,000 crew members.

Overall, the Tết holiday witnessed vibrant tourism activities across Việt Nam, with rising visitor numbers and strong revenue growth. Tourist destinations maintained security and order, while businesses adhered to pricing regulations and ensured food safety. These positive trends indicated a strong outlook for Việt Nam’s tourism sector in 2025. — VNA/VNS