Vietnam Sees Unprecedented Growth as Russian Tourists Return in Droves with Expanded Flight Routes and a Dramatic Surge in Hotel Bookings, Positioning It as a Top Travel Destination – Travel And Tour World

Vietnam is witnessing a surge in Russian tourism, fueled by new flight routes, booming hotel bookings, and growing interest, positioning it as a top destination.

The revival of charter and regular flights from Russia to Vietnam has sparked a surge in interest in the Southeast Asian nation.

Tour operator Travelata.ru reported a 9% increase in tour sales within just one month, reflecting a significant growth compared to the same period last year. Vietnam is now the fastest-growing destination in terms of hotel bookings, surpassing Thailand and nearing pre-pandemic demand levels.

Sales data from Sletat.ru shows a 3.4-fold increase in tours between February 1 and March 18, while Level.Travel experienced a fourfold rise in March alone. Russian Express recorded a remarkable 5.5-fold surge in sales for February and March. According to Let’s Fly CEO Lyubov Voronina, demand is expected to grow by 20%, driven by new flight routes.

Direct flights between Russia and Vietnam resumed in winter 2024, following a suspension in 2020 due to the pandemic. Aeroflot now operates flights to Ho Chi Minh City and will begin flying to Nha Trang on March 22. Azur Air and Pegas Touristik have also launched charter services, while Vietnam Airlines is preparing to launch a Moscow-Hanoi route in May.

Vietnam has emerged as one of the top 10 destinations in March, with OneTwoTrip reporting a doubling of flight and hotel bookings compared to the same period last year. Yandex Travel reported a 49% year-on-year increase in air ticket sales, while Aviasales saw a 62.5% growth in market share. Hotel booking platform Ostrovok identified Vietnam as the fastest-growing destination, with a 25% rise in bookings.

Anex Tour listed Vietnam as the third most popular summer destination, following Turkey and Egypt. Analysts suggest that Vietnam’s appeal is growing, especially as Thailand faces overcapacity. Voronina pointed out that resorts in Mui Ne and Nha Trang offer a compelling alternative, even during the summer months.

Oleg Kozyrev, marketing director at Travelata.ru, expressed confidence that Vietnam’s organized tourism sector is on track to return to its pre-pandemic status.