Vietnam welcomed 17.6 million international visitors in 2024, up 39.5% year-on-year and equal to 97.6% of the country’s 2019 pre-pandemic total, according to Vietnam’s General Statistics Office as reported by Vietnam News. That growth rate outpaced every other major Southeast Asian tourism market that year, per Travel And Tour World’s analysis of regional arrivals data.
- Hanoi — The capital’s Old Quarter dates to the 15th century and serves as the gateway to Ha Long Bay, about 2.5 hours away.
- Ha Long Bay — Nearly 2,000 limestone karst islands rise from the Gulf of Tonkin; UNESCO listed the bay in 1994 for its geology, expanding the designation in 2000 for marine biodiversity.
- Hoi An — This former trading port has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site since December 4, 1999, prized for buildings spanning the 15th to 19th centuries that blend Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, and European influences.
- Hue — The Complex of Hue Monuments, seat of the Nguyen emperors, became Vietnam’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 1993.
- Ho Chi Minh City — Vietnam’s largest city pairs French colonial landmarks like the Central Post Office with the Cu Chi Tunnels and Mekong Delta day trips.
Planning note
Vietnam runs north-to-south along a single rail line linking Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City, but Ha Long Bay and Hoi An sit off that route — budget for a domestic flight or overnight train leg between the north and central coast rather than assuming one line covers the whole itinerary.
Sources
- Vietnam News — Viet Nam saw 17.6 million foreign visitors in 2024, almost reaching pre-pandemic number
- Travel And Tour World — Vietnam surpasses Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Singapore in tourism growth rate, 2024
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Complex of Hué Monuments
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre — Hoi An Ancient Town
- Vietnam+ (VietnamPlus) — Ha Long Bay marks 30 years as UNESCO World Heritage site
Read the Top 10 Countries to Visit in 2026 roundup for how Vietnam compares globally.