Vietnam emerges as top destination for Chinese tourists

This summer, Hu Jia and her family decided to skip the gorgeous beaches and temples of Thailand, just a short flight from her home in Sichuan province. Instead, Hu Jia booked a two-week trip to Vietnam.

Tourists visit Thung Nham Eco- tourism Area, Nam Hoa Lu Ward, Ninh Binh Province. Photo: Thuy Dung - VNA

Ms. Hu Jia, her husband and two sons took a sleeper bus from the capital Hanoi to the coastal city of Da Nang in July. She told Bloomberg (USA): “Vietnam has its own charm. I really like places that feel natural and unspoiled. If I have the chance, I will definitely come back.”

Ms. Hu Jia and her family are among a new wave of 3.5 million Chinese visitors, contributing to boosting Vietnam's tourism to a record by 2025 and dethroning Thailand as the top destination for Chinese travelers.

The shift, fueled by a new wave of independent Chinese travelers, signals a fundamental change in preferences in the world's largest travel market.

Mr. Subramania Bhatt, head of China Trading Desk, which tracks Chinese tourism and credit card spending, commented: “According to this group of tourists, Vietnam offers a new experience. Many tourists feel that Vietnam is authentic and rustic.”

Vietnam has recorded a record of nearly 14 million international arrivals in 2025 through August, with visitors from China up 44% year-on-year, according to Bloomberg. Vietnam’s boom is part of a major restructuring of Southeast Asia’s multi-billion-dollar tourism industry.

Malaysia also saw a 35% increase in Chinese tourists in the first half of the year, with the total number of seats operated by airlines operating flights from China rising by nearly 50%. Shaharuddin Saaid, president of the Malaysian Hotel Owners Association, said visa exemptions for Chinese nationals, along with a weaker ringgit, were expected to attract more Chinese tourists. He said hotels were seeing stronger demand and higher occupancy rates compared to a year ago.

However, there is still hope for a recovery in the coming winter – the traditional peak tourist season for the Southeast Asian nation. “Bangkok remains the most visited destination in Asia on our platform,” said Damien Pfirsch, chief commercial officer at Agoda.

According to VNA

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/viet-nam-vuon-len-tro-thanh-diem-den-hang-dau-cua-du-khach-trung-quoc-a461646.html