Vietnam Sees Surge in Russian Tourists in 2026

Vietnam is strengthening its position as an attractive international travel destination, particularly among Russian tourists. In the first nine months of 2026, the number of Russian visitors to Vietnam reached 1.13 million, representing a 2.6-fold increase compared with the same period last year. This impressive growth highlights Vietnam’s rising popularity and creates new opportunities for the country’s tourism industry.

Russian Tourist Arrivals to Vietnam Record Impressive Growth

According to data from the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) and the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB), Vietnam recorded the highest growth in Russian tourist arrivals among major mass-market destinations during the first nine months of 2026.

The country welcomed approximately 1.13 million Russian visitors, a 2.6-fold increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Online travel demand has also experienced significant growth. Tour bookings through the Onlinetours platform increased nearly 4.5 times, while booking inquiries on Sletat.ru rose fourfold.

These figures demonstrate Vietnam’s growing appeal among Russian travelers and highlight the country’s potential as an increasingly important destination in the international tourism market.

Improved Air Connectivity Supports Vietnam’s Tourism Growth

One of the key factors contributing to the increase in Russian arrivals is the expansion of air connections between Russia and Vietnam.

According to ATOR representatives, direct flights from Russia to Vietnam have become more widely available. Travelers can also choose convenient connecting flights through China, providing additional flexibility when planning their journeys.

Improved air connectivity allows visitors to save travel time and enjoy greater convenience when arranging international holidays.

Combined with Vietnam’s attractive tourism products and competitive travel experiences, better flight connections are helping strengthen the country’s position in the Russian outbound travel market.

Vietnam Gains Ground in Russian Outbound Travel Trends

Vietnam is not the only destination experiencing growth in Russian tourist arrivals. Several other international destinations have also recorded positive results.

During the first nine months of 2026, Russian arrivals in China increased by 60%, reaching 2.76 million. Egypt recorded a 27.4% increase to 1.81 million visitors, while Turkey experienced a 3.1% rise to 5.7 million visitors.

Notably, the combined growth in travel to Vietnam, China, Egypt and Turkey generated approximately 2.3 million additional trips. This increase fully offset the 43.1% decline in Russian travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was affected by the conflict in the Middle East.

Overall, Russian citizens made 15.13 million trips to 32 popular destinations outside neighboring countries during the first nine months of 2026, representing a 12.6% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

Promising Opportunities for Vietnam’s Tourism Industry

The rapid growth in Russian arrivals presents promising opportunities for Vietnam’s tourism sector. Strengthening international air connections, diversifying travel products and improving service quality will be essential to maintaining this positive momentum.

Vietnamese travel companies can also benefit from this trend by developing tour packages tailored to Russian travelers’ preferences, particularly beach holidays, cultural experiences and nature-based tourism.

With its diverse landscapes, attractive coastal destinations and rich cultural heritage, Vietnam has considerable potential to attract more Russian visitors in the coming years.

The growing number of Russian tourists not only contributes to international tourism development but also reinforces Vietnam’s position as an increasingly competitive destination on the global travel map.