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Vietnam Welcomes Its 20 Millionth International Visitor as Tourism Doubles in Less Than a Decade

From 10 million international arrivals in 2016 to 20 million in 2025, Vietnam’s tourism sector has doubled in scale in less than a decade. This historic milestone, recorded in Phu Quoc, reflects the country’s exceptional growth momentum and significant development potential in a new phase of tourism expansion.

On the afternoon of 15 December 2025, at Phu Quoc International Airport, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, in coordination with the An Giang Provincial People’s Committee and local businesses, solemnly hosted a ceremony to welcome Vietnam’s 20 millionth international visitor. This marked the first time in the 65 year history of Vietnam’s tourism industry that such a milestone has been achieved.

The ceremony was held with formal protocols, including a welcome at the aircraft stairs, flower presentations, traditional cultural performances, and the official announcement and presentation of certificates and commemorative gifts to three special guests, namely the 19,999,999th, 20,000,000th, and 20,000,001st international visitors. The event was supported by Sun Group and Ngoc Hien Pearl.

Speaking at the ceremony, a representative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism emphasized that welcoming 20 million international visitors in 2025 represents a historic milestone for Vietnam’s tourism industry. This achievement demonstrates a strong, sustainable, and remarkable recovery, particularly as global tourism has only recently emerged from an unprecedented downturn caused by the Covid 19 pandemic.

Deeply moved upon receiving the special gifts symbolic of Phu Quoc, Ms Karolina Agnieszka Muskus from Poland, the 20 millionth visitor, shared her emotions. She said that she was truly touched to the point of tears and felt extremely fortunate to be in Vietnam. She praised the country’s beauty and the warmth, friendliness, and openness of its people. She expressed her love for Vietnam and said this moment would remain a treasured memory for life. Although this was her first visit, she affirmed it would not be her last and that she would encourage her friends and family in Poland to visit Vietnam.

Since Vietnam fully reopened to international tourism on 15 March 2022, international arrivals have grown steadily and strongly. In 2025, the number of international visitors is expected to reach approximately 21 million, surpassing the pre pandemic peak of 18 million in 2019. With a growth rate of around 21 percent, Vietnam is considered among the fastest growing tourism markets globally, compared to the global average growth of around 5 percent.

Looking back, the increase from 10 million international visitors in 2016 to 20 million in 2025 illustrates a rare growth pace within the region. Over the same period, Thailand recorded growth of approximately 19 percent, while Singapore grew by around 8 percent, despite their larger visitor bases. This highlights Vietnam’s transition from an emerging destination to a new regional tourism hub, with strong growth momentum and significant potential for further international market expansion. With continued growth, open visa policies, expanded air connectivity, and sustained investment in tourism infrastructure, Vietnam is expected to maintain its position as one of the fastest growing tourism markets in Asia and globally over the medium and long term.

Over the past decade, many of Vietnam’s key tourism milestones have been marked in Phu Quoc, underscoring the island’s special role in the country’s tourism development journey.

Phu Quoc has emerged as one of the fastest growing tourism destinations in Vietnam, serving as a pioneer and a key driver for international arrivals. The pilot visa free policy allowing all international visitors to stay for up to 30 days has provided the island with a clear competitive advantage over many regional destinations. This policy has also helped attract long stay and high spending international travelers.

Alongside policy initiatives, Phu Quoc’s tourism ecosystem has been continuously and rapidly expanded, with a diverse range of accommodations, numerous high end resorts, large scale entertainment complexes, and distinctive tourism products. Being one of the few destinations in the world to host international shows and nightly fireworks displays has further strengthened Phu Quoc’s image as a dynamic, modern, and uniquely appealing destination.

In recent years, Phu Quoc has consistently received recognition from reputable international organizations and media outlets, contributing to the enhanced global profile of Vietnam’s tourism brand. Notably, as the host location for APEC 2027, Phu Quoc is entering a new development phase, with comprehensive upgrades to transport, urban, and service infrastructure. These include improvements to the international airport, An Thoi marina, strategic transport corridors, and large scale convention and exhibition centers.

The milestone of welcoming 20 million international visitors in Phu Quoc therefore carries profound symbolic significance. It is not only a source of pride for the island itself, but also a representation of a fast growing and innovative destination, reflecting a dynamic, open Vietnam that is ready for deeper global integration and committed to positioning tourism as a key pillar of its economy in the next development phase.

The welcoming ceremony featured formal reception rituals, traditional performances, and the presentation of certificates and gifts to the three special visitors. The gift package for the 20 millionth visitor was valued at nearly 500 million VND and included a premium pearl necklace worth 200 million VND, round trip business class flights provided by Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a luxury five star resort stay, Michelin dining experience vouchers, golf and yacht experiences around southern Phu Quoc, and priority access cards for entertainment services within the Sun Group ecosystem, valued at up to 300 million VND.

The 19,999,999th and 20,000,001st visitors also received gift packages valued at over 200 million VND each, including premium pearls and vouchers for products and services within the Sun Group system.

In addition, all passengers on the milestone flight received welcome flowers and complimentary tickets to the Kiss of the Sea show at Sunset Town in Phu Quoc.