The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) has recorded a sharp rise in tourist numbers across various provinces and cities during the country’s nine-day Tet Lunar New Year holidays starting January 25 and ending February 2. Both domestic and international tourist numbers were up for that period over the 2024 holidays.
There were 12.5 million domestic visitors, up 19 per cent over 2024, while international visitor arrivals rose by some 30 per cent. The latter was attributed to friendlier visa policies and targeted tourism promotions led by the tourism authorities and private sector players.
Access to Vietnam was also boosted ahead of Tet, with Vietnam Airlines adding three wet-lease A320 aircraft to operations from January 13 to February 12. These aircraft flew domestic routes and contributed approximately 75,000 seats, equivalent to over 400 flights, during the Tet holiday period.
The country’s other dominant airline player, Vietjet strengthened its fleet through four additional wet-leased aircraft that were deployed on both domestic and international routes. Priority was given to high-traffic journeys from South to North Vietnam, as well as routes catering to passengers travelling for Tet celebrations.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, domestic flights during Tet reached a booking rate of 90 per cent to 100 per cent.
VNAT data showed that Quang Ninh, Danang, Quang Nam, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang were most popular among international travellers.
A report by Vietnam Briefing noted that Tet 2025 was particularly successful for Vietnam’s tourism industry, as eight provinces and cities were able to surpass one trillion Vietnamese dong (US$39.6 million) in earnings – something only Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Danang were able to achieve in 2024.
Official data shows that Ho Chi Minh City recorded an estimated tourism revenue of 7.7 trillion Vietnamese dong, up 17 per cent over Tet 2024. Hanoi has 3.5 trillion Vietnamese dong, up eight per cent.
Coastal province Quang Ninh, which is loved for scenic Halong Bay and many natural spots, enjoyed an earnings surge, with 2.7 trillion Vietnamese dong on record, up 71 per cent over the same period in 2024.
