Russian tourists flock to Vietnam

According to Russian press, Vietnam has become the fastest growing destination in Southeast Asia for the Russian market and is on track to recover pre-Covid-19 pandemic demand levels, surpassing Thailand.

In 2019, the number of Russian tourists to Vietnam reached a record of nearly 650,000, but then decreased sharply due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war situation. At this time, Vietnam is among the most popular destinations for Russians, with the potential to replace Thailand and Türkiye.

Sheet Commentary Citing data from the Travelata.ru booking system, the website said that demand for group tours to Vietnam in February this year increased by 9% compared to January and increased by another 5% in March. According to Sletat.ru, sales of tours to Vietnam from early February to mid-March increased 3.4 times compared to the same period in 2024. Level Travel also said that sales in Vietnam increased fourfold in March, with the majority of orders coming from Russian regions.

Travel companies also recorded a significant increase in demand. According to Russian Express , flight route sales to Vietnam increased 5.5 times compared to the same period in 2024. This demand is forecast to continue to increase by 20% due to the expansion of air routes.

According to news agency Lenta and Ria Novosti , direct flights between Russia and Vietnam have resumed after a temporary suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic. From March 22, Russian airline Aeroflot will launch flights to Nha Trang and Vietnam Airlines plans to operate regular flights from Hanoi to Moscow from next May. Meanwhile, Azur Air and Pegas Touristik are also expanding charter programs from nine cities in Siberia and the Far East to Vietnam.

According to Yandex Travel, air ticket sales to Vietnam increased by 49% year-on-year and the average cost for a flight was 81,000 Rubles (approx. 950 USD ). Ostrovok booking service said that Russian demand for travel to Vietnam in early 2025 increased by 73% compared to 2024, with priority destinations being Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Phu Quoc.

Vietnam tour prices are currently considered very good. According to Satmarket travel agency, 2 weeks in a 5-star hotel for 2 people in July with half board included costs 1,500 USD - hard to find anywhere else at this price.

Travel companies have also recorded a significant increase in demand. According to Russian Express, sales of flights to Vietnam increased 5.5 times compared to the same period in 2024. This demand is forecast to continue to increase by 20% due to the expansion of air routes.

According to the Russian press, Vietnam will be a serious competitor not only to overloaded Thailand, but also to Turkey and Egypt, especially since flights to Vietnam are closer from Siberia and the Far East. It is expected that this year, there will be 0.5 million Russian tourists in Vietnam.

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