Vietnam Leads ASEAN Tourism Recovery with 17.5M Arrivals in 2024

Vietnam has emerged as the third-most-visited country in Southeast Asia, recording 17.5 million international arrivals in 2024, surpassing Singapore. The country has demonstrated the fastest tourism recovery in the region, regaining 98% of its pre-pandemic tourism business, with nearly 4 million international tourists visiting in the first two months of 2025 alone, marking a 30.2% increase year-over-year. Contributing to this growth are improved accessibility through nonstop flights from the U.S. and new electronic visa policies allowing longer stays. Meanwhile, Thailand remains the top destination with 35 million visitors, but its growth is slower, with an 87.5% recovery rate. The tourism boom in Vietnam is further supported by a surge in luxury accommodations and the expansion of the Michelin Guide, enhancing its culinary appeal. These developments position Vietnam as a significant competitor in the Southeast Asian tourism market.