The global tourism industry should prepare for an increase in Vietnamese travellers as the country's outbound tourism market experiences significant growth.
In 2022, approximately 10.5 million Vietnamese travelled abroad, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. This upward trend is expected to continue, with projections indicating over 11.5 million Vietnamese tourists venturing overseas in 2023.
A key factor driving this growth is the recent expansion of visa-free access for Vietnamese passport holders, who can now visit 55 countries without a visa. This development has made international travel more accessible and affordable for Vietnamese citizens.
The 55 visa-free countries Vietnamese travellers can visit
- Cambodia
- Iran
- Indonesia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Macao
- Maldives
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Turkey
- Armenia
- Serbia
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Gambia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mozambique
- Rwanda
- Seychelles
- Somalia
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Cook Islands
- Fiji
- Micronesia
- Niue
- Palau Islands
- Samoa
- Tuvalu
- Barbados
- Bolivia
- Chile
- Dominica
- Ecuador
- Haiti
- Panama
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Top countries for Vietnamese travellers
According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the most popular countries visited by Vietnamese passport holders in 2022 include:
- Japan (1.2 million visitors)
- South Korea (1 million visitors)
- Thailand (900,000 visitors)
- Singapore (700,000 visitors)
- China (650,000 visitors)
Top cities for Vietnamese travellers
The most popular cities visited by Vietnamese passport holders in 2022 include:
- Tokyo (700,000 visitors)
- Seoul (600,000 visitors)
- Bangkok (550,000 visitors)
- Singapore (500,000 visitors)
- Hong Kong (450,000 visitors)
Top regions for Vietnamese travellers
- Asia: 60% (6.3 million travellers)
- Europe: 20% (2.1 million travellers)
- Americas: 10% (1.05 million travellers)
- Australia: 5% (525,000 travellers)
- Others: 5% (525,000 travellers)
The breakdown of Vietnamese travellers by region shows a strong preference for Asian destinations, accounting for 60% of all outbound travel, followed by Europe at 20%.
Rising incomes, improved infrastructure, and government initiatives to promote outbound tourism are further contributing to this trend. As a result, the global tourism industry may need to adapt to cater to the preferences of this growing market, which includes interests in shopping, local cuisine, and cultural experiences.