In the first 11 months of 2025, the total number of international tourists to Vietnam has reached more than 19.1 million, which increased by 20.9% compared to the number of a year earlier. This number is the highest breakthrough of Vietnam, surpassing its pre-pandemic peak of more than 18 million arrivals in 2019, according to the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

On the morning of November 7, the garden within the Vietnamese Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, was filled with laughter and chatter as more than 40 international guests attended a Vietnamese cooking class. The participants included members of the International Diplomatic Spouses Association in South Africa and representatives of the South African Women’s Association.

In recent months, Vietnam’s expanded visa exemption policy has made it easier for European travelers to visit and explore the country, with the number of Eastern European tourists searching for Vietnamese destinations on the Agoda platform surging by 59%. Among these, the “Pearl Island” of Phu Quoc has emerged as the most favored destination, witnessing a remarkable 113% increase in searches compared to the same period last year.

Vietnam has outshined many strong contenders to secure a place among the top 10 most beloved global destinations in two major categories: “World’s Best Destination” and “World’s Friendliest Country.”