Chinese tourists returning to Vietnam increase sharply

Vietnam has seen a boom from the Chinese market as destination searches nearly doubled, bringing back the largest source of visitors and opening up new growth opportunities for the tourism industry.

Many new direct flights between Vietnam and China have just been opened, creating a big "boost" for bilateral tourism . According to data from the Agoda platform, in July and August 2025 alone, the number of searches for Vietnam destinations from Chinese tourists increased by 90% compared to the same period last year.

The growth momentum comes from the opening of more direct flights connecting Hanoi with major Chinese cities such as Ningbo, Chengdu, Shanghai and Xi’an. Thanks to convenient air connections, the Vietnamese capital has become a prominent destination in the eyes of tourists. Agoda recorded an 89% increase in searches for Hanoi from the Chinese market compared to the same period in 2024.

This increase not only reflects a strong recovery in tourism demand after the pandemic, but also shows the importance of aviation infrastructure in promoting international tourist flows. Once travel barriers are removed, exploring Vietnam's culture, cuisine and landscapes will become easier than ever.

Chinese tourists traveling to Vietnam

According to data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, in August 2025 alone, China became the largest market sending tourists to Vietnam, accounting for about 25% of the total number of international visitors. This marked a strong return of Chinese tourists - which used to be a traditional market but had declined during the pandemic.

On the other hand, the demand of Vietnamese tourists to China has also increased significantly. Agoda said that in the period of July - August 2025, the number of searches for trips to China increased by 50% compared to the same period last year.

The most prominent of these is Xi'an (the cradle of Chinese culture) with a 130% increase in searches. Followed by Ningbo (77%), Shanghai (68%) and Chengdu (20%).

Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, Country Director of Agoda in Vietnam, commented: "Vietnam is increasingly attracting more Chinese tourists thanks to increased air connectivity, opening up opportunities for them to explore its rich culture and diverse landscapes. At the same time, Vietnamese tourists also have more favorable conditions to travel to China to experience tourism."

According to experts, with reasonable costs and short flight times, the potential for exploiting the flow of passengers between the two countries is huge. Strengthening aviation cooperation, opening more direct routes and increasing flight frequency will continue to be the key to maintaining growth momentum.

At the same time, the growing interest of Vietnamese tourists in China also requires travel companies to design new products, combining traditional and modern experiences. Itineraries to explore ancient Xi'an, bustling Shanghai or lands with few tourist footprints can become "plus points" to attract this market.

Searches for Vietnam from Chinese tourists (July - August 2025): increase 90% compared to the same period in 2024.

Searches for Hanoi from Chinese visitors: increased by 89%.

Searches for China travel from Vietnamese tourists: increased by 50%.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khach-trung-quoc-tro-lai-viet-nam-tang-manh-185250925112650182.htm