The number jumped nearly 30% from the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

Air travel remained the dominant mode of entry, with over 5.2 million arrivals in the first three months, followed by land crossings with nearly 700,000 visitors.

The remainder arrived by sea, totaling more than 133,000 visitors.

China was the largest inbound market with nearly 1.6 million arrivals. South Korea ranked second at almost 1.3 million, followed by familiar markets such as Taiwan, Japan, Cambodia, India, the U.S., and Australia.

Visitors from Russia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and China were seen as the key drivers of growth, with increases of between 178% and 210%.

Increased consumer demand during the Lunar New Year holiday and the surge in international visitors to Vietnam contributed to significant growth in the service sector, according to the General Statistics Office.

Tourism insiders said that inbound tourism is experiencing remarkable growth, with visitor numbers surpassing those of 2019 – the peak year for Vietnamese tourism.

If the growth rate is maintained, the target of welcoming 22-23 million international visitors this year appears achievable, they said.

The record-breaking number of visitors in the first quarter is attributed to promotional campaigns by various government agencies, relaxed visa policies for potential markets, and Vietnam’s appeal as a budget-friendly destination amid a global economic downturn, during which people are tightening their travel budgets.