China Retakes Top Spot as Vietnam's Largest Source Market for Tourists
China has reclaimed its top spot as Vietnam's largest source market for international arrivals, with a significant surge in Chinese travelers in August. This rebound, after a long pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is driven by increased air connectivity and pent-up demand.
In August, Chinese travelers made up around 25 per cent of all international arrivals in Vietnam, nearly doubling earlier figures. This growth is reflected in a 90 per cent year-on-year increase in searches from Chinese travelers for Vietnam in July-August, with Hanoi seeing an 89 per cent rise.
China Southern Airlines has played a key role in this revival, resuming direct flights between Vietnam and China. In early October 2025, the airline began testing five charter flights from Shenzhen to Da Nang. New direct routes from Hanoi to Ningbo, Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xi'an have further boosted tourism flows between the two countries. These new connections have seen a significant increase in interest, with Xi'an leading the way with a 130 per cent surge in searches from Vietnamese users, followed by Ningbo, Shanghai, and Chengdu.
The restoration of direct flight connections and the pent-up demand from both Chinese and Vietnamese travelers have fueled a significant rebound in tourism between the two countries. Agoda's country director for Vietnam, Vu Ngoc Lam, highlights the crucial role of aviation in driving international tourism and the ease of discovering Vietnam's culture, cuisine, and natural beauty, which are likely to continue attracting visitors.
