Travel
Vietnam Is the Fastest Growing Tourism Destination in Southeast Asia
Looser visa policies, nonstop flights and luxurious hotels opening on uncrowded islands are among the factors raising Vietnam’s profile this year.
Cyclo riders transport tourists along a street in Hoi An, Vietnam's Quang Nam province.
Photographer: Nhac Nguyen/Getty ImagesThailand may be fully in the spotlight, where Southeast Asian tourism is concerned. Its starring role in Season 3 of The White Lotus has supercharged vacationers’ (already high) interest.
But there’s a neighboring destination that’s one-upping it in terms of growth: Vietnam now ranks as the third-most-visited country in Southeast Asia, with 17.5 million international arrivals in 2024, edging ahead of Singapore. It follows Malaysia, which claims 25 million visitors, and Thailand, at the top spot with 35 million.