Why is the number of Eastern European tourists searching for Vietnam as a destination increasing?

The number of searches for accommodation in Vietnam from Eastern European markets increased by 59%, notably from Slovenia (+77%), Poland (+74%), Bulgaria (+72%), Romania (+69%) and Slovakia (+61%).

Agoda's Country Manager for Vietnam, Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, said the data was compiled from searches on Agoda between August 15 and September 30, with check-in times from October to November, and compared with the same period last year.

“The data clearly shows that the simplification of entry procedures and improved accessibility have contributed to the increase in the number of tourists from Europe and other distant markets to Vietnam,” said Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, adding that the increase reflects the positive effect of the Vietnamese Government ’s new visa exemption policy for citizens of 12 European countries, effective from August 15, 2025.

According to this expert, Eastern European tourists are increasingly showing interest in exploring Vietnam, focusing on five prominent destinations. Topping the list is Phu Quoc Island with an impressive growth in searches, 113% compared to the same period last year. Following the tropical pearl island are the two bustling cities of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with increases of 77% and 56% respectively.

Also making the top 5 list for Eastern European visitors are the coastal cities of Da Nang and Nha Trang. Both recorded a search increase of 36% and 35% respectively.

Tourists watch the sunset in Phu Quoc. (Photo: Contributor/Vietnam+)

This level of interest from European tourists is similar to the data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, which shows that the number of visitors from this region has increased by nearly 35% in the past 9 months. In the third quarter alone, Vietnam welcomed 568,370 European visitors, up 38% compared to the previous quarter and a sharp increase of 60% compared to the same period last year.

International tourists rate hotels in Vietnam as mostly new, beautiful and luxurious, no less than those in European and American countries. In particular, Vietnamese food is both delicious and cheap, with reasonable living costs.

The results of the 2025 survey by InterNations show a remarkable trend, that is, when financial issues are increasingly considered to assess the level of satisfaction of foreigners with life in the host country. Accordingly, countries with high rankings in the "Personal Finance Index" (cost of living, living expenses, income commensurate with quality of life) are often at the top of the overall rankings. In particular, Vietnam often leads this important index./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/vi-sao-luong-khach-dong-au-tim-kiem-diem-den-viet-nam-co-xu-huong-tang-manh-post1071658.vnp