Travel

Italian-flagged cruise ship Costa Serena docked at Ana Marina in Nha Trang on January 4, bringing 2,800 international travellers to Khanh Hoa Province.

Viet Nam’s tourism sector recorded strong momentum during the New Year 2026 holiday from January 1–4, welcoming an estimated 3.5 million visitors nationwide, according to the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

Ho Chi Minh City raked in 2.63 trillion VND (nearly 100 million USD) from tourism activities during the New Year holiday from January 1 to 4, the municipal Department of Tourism has reported.

Noi Bai International Airport handled around 115,000 passengers on January 4, the final day of the New Year holiday, hitting the peak of the four-day travel period.

Ha Noi welcomed around 560,000 visitors during the New Year holiday from January 1 to 4, earning a total revenue of 2.1 trillion VND (nearly 79.85 million USD), marking increases of 250% in volume and 254% in value compared to the same period last year.

Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Ho Chi Minh City emerged as a popular destination for both domestic and international visitors during the New Year holiday, thanks to the event “International Cultural Week – Welcoming the New Year 2026”.

Tourist arrivals, both domestic and international, to the northeastern province of Quang Ninh rose sharply during the first three days of the New Year 2026 holiday, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

With its striking natural scenery, rich cultural heritage, convenient transport links and year-round sunshine, the south central province of Khanh Hoa is pulling in crowds of travelers, both domestic and international, over the four-day 2026 New Year holiday.

Recently, major Indian film projects have opened up exciting opportunities to showcase Viet Nam's stunning landscapes and rich culture to global audiences, choosing locations across Quang Tri, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, Cao Bang, and other areas.

The extended 2026 New Year holiday, coupled with warm weather, proved ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities. Making the most of this period, people travelled to destinations with stunning landscapes and rich cultural appeal to relax and explore, helping to energise the tourism market from the very first days of the year.

The central city of Hue is targeting up to 7.5 million tourist arrivals in 2026, with total tourism revenue estimated at around 15 trillion VND (570 million USD), higher than the 6.3 million visitors and over 13 trillion VND recorded in 2025, according to local authorities.

A new tourism product was launched in Lung Cu commune, Tuyen Quang province, on January 2, offering visitors a horseback trekking experience in Viet Nam’s northernmost area.

Quy Nhon, with its beautiful beach and unique cuisine, has been noted as one of the best destinations in 2026.

Destinations across Viet Nam greeted the year's first visitors on the morning of January 1, marking an auspicious start to the new tourism season.

The northeastern mountainous province of Lang Son and Hoi An ward in the central city of Da Nang have marked a positive start to their tourism activities in 2026 by welcoming the first international tourist delegations of the year.

The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on January 1 welcomed its first cruise ship of the year, carrying 3,016 passengers, mostly from the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and Spain.

In the early hours of January 1, 2026, the first international visitors from the Republic of Korea (RoK) officially arrived at Phu Quoc International Airport, marking the beginning of a highly promising tourism year for Pearl Island.

Against the broader backdrop of the global tourism recovery, Viet Nam is emerging as a highly promising destination, with the year 2025 marking a period of remarkable growth for the country’s tourism industry.

The Republic of Korea will extend the waiver of visa processing fees for group tourists from six countries, including Viet Nam, for another six months, to the end of June 2026.

Situated at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres above sea level, Y Ty Commune in Lao Cai Province has long ranked among the top destinations for travellers nationwide. Although the journey is far from easy, a trip to Y Ty always offers well-earned rewards for patient and resilient backpackers.