Vietnam Nears 2 Million Foreign Tourists in August, Driving Economic Recovery

Vietnam's tourism industry served an estimated 6.5 million domestic tourists during the five-day National Day holiday from August 29 to September 2, an increase of 18.1% year-on-year. During this period, tourists increasingly opted for short, flexible trips rich in cultural, natural, and local-life experiences, prompting destinations and businesses to refresh tourism products, expand transport capacity, and tighten safety measures. Foreign tourist arrivals in August are estimated to be around 2 million, a crucial factor driving Vietnam's economic recovery. In the first half of the year, Vietnam welcomed approximately 12.3 million international visitors, up nearly 15% year-on-year, with China and the Republic of Korea remaining the two largest source markets. Experts noted that the growth in visitor numbers should go hand in hand with improvements in spending, length of stay, satisfaction, and environmental and cultural sustainability. The Vietnamese government aims to enhance the quality of tourism and promote sustainable tourism development. Economically, Vietnam's total import-export turnover reached 770.14 billion USD in the first eight months of 2026, the highest-ever figure for the period, up 28.7% year-on-year. This indicates Vietnam's significant role in global supply chains. Asia remained the largest export market for Vietnam’s major agro-forestry-aquatic products, accounting for 45.5% of the total. Notably, the number of new FDI projects rose only 9.4% while their registered capital surged 96.8%, indicating a significant increase in average project size and investors’ stronger commitment from the outset. This suggests a shift towards industrial restructuring and investment in higher value-added sectors. To maintain and accelerate economic growth, Vietnam is strengthening efforts in areas such as improving energy efficiency, support programs for exporters, green transition, intellectual property protection, and cross-border e-commerce. The aviation industry, while facing challenges like fuel price and foreign exchange volatility and high fleet costs, aims to increase passenger numbers and market share. Source: VietnamPlus English