The most anticipated "reunion"
Since the beginning of the year, Khanh Hoa's tourism industry has continuously received good news with a flurry of charter flights from Russia, bringing tens of thousands of Russian tourists to Nha Trang.
The resumption of direct flights from Russia has contributed to bringing more Russian tourists to Vietnam.
PHOTO: BA DUY
According to the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, in 2024, Vietnam's tourism industry welcomed over 232,300 Russian tourists, an increase of 84.9% compared to 2023. In the first two months of 2025 alone, Vietnam received nearly 80,000 Russian tourists, a 204% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Currently, Russia is the leading European country sending tourists to Vietnam.
Russian tourists are very open-minded, utilizing most tourism products, especially health and wellness services like mud baths; they go for mud baths every day. Russians also travel for extended periods, with each trip lasting 5-7 days, and some staying for 1-2 months. Therefore, the return of Russian tourists promises to give Nha Trang in particular, and Khanh Hoa in general, a new boost in tourism and the economy after the pandemic.
Mr. NGUYEN VAN THANH (former Vice President of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association)
For Nha Trang's tourism industry, these are the most anticipated reunions; because before the pandemic, this market accounted for more than 70% of the total number of international tourists visiting the coastal city. Even at the time of reopening after the pandemic, Russian tourists were among the first foreign visitors to "inaugurate" the city, warming up Nha Trang's tourism.
However, since the conflict in Ukraine, the number of Russian tourists has dropped sharply. Tourist destinations and resorts are now devoid of European visitors enjoying the warm sunshine in the clear blue waters. Therefore, from the end of March until now, when the beaches have gradually filled up with Russian families and couples swimming, sunbathing, and having fun, not only those in the tourism industry but also the people of Khanh Hoa and Vietnamese tourists are extremely excited.
"Last year, I took my younger sister to Nha Trang for her university entrance exam, and the streets were still very quiet. Walking along the beach in the afternoon, it was mostly locals exercising, with very few tourists. It was completely different from nearly 10 years ago when I first visited Nha Trang; everywhere I went, I saw foreign tourists, and everywhere I sat, I heard people speaking Russian and Chinese. In my impression, Nha Trang was a paradise for Russian tourists. Therefore, when I went to Nha Trang for work at the end of March and witnessed Russian tourists swarming the beach in the midday sun, even though I'm not from here, I felt happy. It felt like tourism had truly recovered, and the economy was about to pick up again," shared Thuy Quynh (from Phu Yen province).
Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh, former Vice Chairman of the Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, said that the sight of charter flights bringing Russian tourists to Cam Ranh airport brought back memories of about 15 years ago, when Khanh Hoa began to attract the attention of Russians. At that time, Nha Trang was not yet among the top destinations in the country, and was just beginning to explore its tourism potential. Every week, the travel agency Pegas Turistik organized 9 flights bringing tourists from the Russian Far East to Cam Ranh airport; of which 70% stayed in Nha Trang, and 30% went to Phan Thiet.
Russian tourists at that time were very satisfied with the quality of tourism services in Nha Trang and saw it as a future tourism paradise. Indeed, since then, Russian tourists have continuously visited Nha Trang. With the establishment of air routes and expanded promotion, Russia has not only become a key market, accounting for over 70% of foreign tourists to Nha Trang, but has also contributed to changing the face of Khanh Hoa's tourism industry. Many Vietnamese expatriates in Russia have returned to their country to invest in Nha Trang, building high-quality hotels along the beach and upgrading the quality of tourism services to a new level.
Russian tourists flocked to Vietnam, filling the beaches in Nha Trang.
PHOTO: BA DUY
Russian tourists flocked to Vietnam, filling the beaches in Nha Trang.
PHOTO: BA DUY
"Recently, Korean tourists replaced Russian tourists, but Korean tourists tend to travel on closed tours, with few experiences outside of the tour, so they haven't truly permeated the tourism industry. Conversely, Russian tourists are very open, using almost all tourism products, especially health and wellness services like mud baths; they go for mud baths every day. Russian tourists also travel for longer periods, each trip lasting 5-7 days, some staying 1-2 months. Therefore, the return of Russian tourists promises to give Nha Trang in particular, and Khanh Hoa in general, a new boost in tourism and the economy after the pandemic," Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh observed.
According to information from the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the increase in direct flights in recent times has strongly boosted the recovery of the Russian tourist market. In the coming time, the number of Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa will increase significantly; it is expected that in April there will be 50-55 flights/month, and from July to the end of 2025 it will increase to 90-100 flights/month.
Russian tourists are no longer just "obsessed" with the sea.
Not only Khanh Hoa, but after the pandemic, Phu Quoc has become one of Vietnam's most attractive destinations for Russian tourists. Although charter flights from Russia to Phu Quoc have not yet been piloted, the majority of Russian tourists arrive in Phu Quoc via charter flights transiting through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, yet Phu Quoc is still receiving this influx of tourists very well. According to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism, in 2024, Phu Quoc welcomed approximately 47,000 Russian tourists; but in just the first two months of 2025, this number has already reached 27,000.
The resumption of direct flights from Russia has contributed to bringing more Russian tourists to Vietnam.
PHOTO: BA DUY
According to Mr. Cung Quynh Anh, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it is estimated that in the first quarter of 2025, Khanh Hoa's tourism industry will welcome approximately 49,100 Russian tourists, an increase of 110.74% compared to the same period in 2024. In an effort to boost this market, a delegation from Khanh Hoa province recently visited and worked in the Russian Federation and successfully organized a tourism promotion conference in Moscow. The delegation also held two important meetings with Aeroflot and the Anex Tour Moscow office. The trip yielded many positive results in promoting the reopening of direct flights and attracting Russian tourists to Khanh Hoa province.
Restoring direct flights from Russia to Cam Ranh will help diversify the sources of international tourists, reduce dependence on certain markets, and aim to achieve the target of welcoming 11.8 million tourists, including 5.2 million international tourists, and generating 60,000 billion VND in tourism revenue in 2025.
Ba Duy
Thanks to favorable weather conditions, the number of Russian tourists visiting Phu Quoc is predicted to grow significantly if a direct flight route becomes operational. Therefore, as soon as information about the plan to open a direct flight route between Russia and Phu Quoc was released, businesses and organizations in Phu Quoc began preparing the necessary conditions and services to serve tourists from Russia in the near future.
Notably, it's not just the pristine beaches with their clear blue waters and bright sunshine that are attracting Russian tourists seeking winter escapes as before. Hanoi, the capital city, is also actively promoting this market, further boosted by the aviation sector, with Vietnam Airlines planning to operate regular flights between Moscow and Hanoi starting in May. The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Ho Chi Minh City, Timur Sadykov, also expressed hope that these flights will boost tourism, not just to but exceeding pre-Covid-19 levels, and contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.
At a recent meeting with the Hanoi Department of Tourism regarding two-way tourist exchange between Hanoi and travel businesses in the Far East (Russian Federation), Malinovskii Roman, Vice President of the Asia-Europe Business Association, reported that recently, Russian and CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan) tourists searching for information about Vietnam have increased by 35%. In particular, cities like Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Da Nang have seen a 130% increase in searches. "This result shows that with its natural beauty, pleasant tropical weather, and many unique experiences, Vietnam is outperforming many other destinations in Asia," Mr. Malinovskii Roman stated.
The Association of Russian Travel Agencies (ATOR) added that the surge in Russian tourists to Vietnam occurred not only during the autumn and winter months, but also during the May holidays and summer. The head of the association, Maya Lomidze, attributed this increase to several factors, including pent-up demand, the resumption of direct flights between the two countries, and the appreciation of the ruble.
"According to our estimates, Vietnam will definitely be in the top 10 summer destinations for Russians, possibly even the top 5," said Maya Lomidze.
Connecting products from the sea to the city, encouraging tourists to stay longer.
Statistics from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) show that although Russians don't travel very often, they have a relatively high spending level, around $2,000 per person per trip, including $610 spent on things outside of the tour, which is 40% higher than the average spending of tourists from other countries. The fact that Russian tourists are choosing Vietnam as a destination to experience its nature and culture is expected to generate significant revenue for Vietnamese tourism in the future.
Russian tourists visit Nha Trang in early April.
PHOTO: BA DUY
Russian tourists return to Mui Ne.
Russian tourists enjoy many exciting activities on the beach in Mui Ne.
PHOTO: QUE HA
According to Mr. Tran Van Binh, Vice Chairman of the Binh Thuan Tourism Association, Russian tourists are returning in numbers comparable to those before the Covid-19 pandemic. Mui Ne, once a major destination for Russian tourists, has seen a decline in this market for several years due to the impact of the Ukraine conflict; moreover, they cannot fly directly and must travel through intermediaries.
"Currently, there are numerous direct flights to Cam Ranh carrying Russian tourists, many of whom travel back to Mui Ne or Nha Trang. I've seen some Russian tourists who haven't returned to Mui Ne in 10 years," Mr. Binh said.
To accommodate the return of Russian tourists, Mr. Binh suggested that Binh Thuan's tourism industry, especially establishments in the Mui Ne National Tourist Area, needs to prepare well in terms of infrastructure, services, and diverse products to satisfy international visitors, including Russian tourists.
"Russian tourists also come in many segments; they visit many beach destinations but particularly love Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc… because they enjoy water sports. Mui Ne has many water sports tourism products that Russians prefer. According to my forecast, the number of Russian tourists this year will be even higher than before the Covid-19 pandemic. Hopefully, Binh Thuan's tourism industry will achieve great success this year," Mr. Tran Van Binh commented.
Que Ha
However, Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh noted that during this return trip, the travel needs of Russians will also undergo many changes. After a period of conflict and economic and political instability, Russians will seek out places that offer a sense of peace and genuine relaxation. They will be willing to spend on high-end resort experiences, but the value must be commensurate with the price.
According to Mr. Thanh, there's no need to worry too much about accommodation. In Khanh Hoa, for example, with approximately 60,000 rooms (not including the large number of condotels and bungalows), it's possible to accommodate double, or even triple, the current number of Russian tourists. Furthermore, Vietnam's infrastructure has improved significantly, with many connecting highways creating a link between beaches from Khanh Hoa to Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, and even Ho Chi Minh City. This will provide excellent opportunities for localities and tourism businesses to create new tour routes and offer diverse experiences for tourists, extending their trips. Along with that, services need to be better prepared and more upscale, focusing on upgrading entertainment venues, shopping areas, and healthcare facilities to encourage tourists to spend more.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam Tourism Association is also cooperating with three localities – Hanoi, Binh Dinh, and Phu Yen – to develop tours combining cultural and leisure tourism to diversify products for Russian tourists in particular, as well as international tourists to Vietnam in general. Hanoi's advantage lies in its system of 5-star hotels, its unique culture for tourists to experience, and the upcoming direct flights to Russia; while Phu Yen and Binh Dinh have beautiful beaches, meeting the needs of tourists seeking beach holidays… To encourage attracting high-spending tourists from Russia, Phu Yen and Binh Dinh tourism authorities have committed to reducing service prices by 20-30% for Russian tourist groups.
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khach-nga-ram-ro-tro-lai-viet-nam-18525040522590065.htm
Comment (0)