Thailand still welcomes more foreign visitors than Vietnam, but the gap is closing fast. Official figures for January to September 2026 put Thailand on 23,199,306 international tourist arrivals, down 3.8 per cent on the same months of 2025, while Vietnam recorded 17,680,714 international visitors, up 14.5 per cent.
So is Vietnam about to overtake Thailand? Not this year. But the market-by-market numbers show where Thailand is losing ground, and where it is still well ahead, which matters if you live here, run a business that depends on visitors, or are weighing up a move between the two.
The headline numbers
| January to September 2026 | Thailand | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| International arrivals | 23,199,306 | 17,680,714 |
| Change on January to September 2025 | Down 3.8% | Up 14.5% |
| September 2026 alone | 2,000,339 | 1,768,549 |
| Change in September | Down 10.5% | Up 16.1% |
| Official source | Ministry of Tourism and Sports (preliminary) | Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism and National Statistics Office |
On MEM's arithmetic from the two official tables, Thailand's lead over Vietnam was roughly 8.7 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025. In the same period of 2026 it was about 5.5 million. Vietnam's government says it has reached nearly 71 per cent of its target of 25 million foreign visitors for 2026.
Market by market: who goes where?
| Market (Jan to Sep 2026) | To Thailand | Change | To Vietnam | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| China | 3,935,434 | Up 15.2% | 3,953,429 | Up 1.5% |
| South Korea | 848,647 | Down 25.4% | 3,058,996 | Down 5.5% |
| Russia | 1,270,703 | Down 0.1% | 1,134,058 | Up 160.6% |
| India | 1,727,437 | Down 2.5% | 670,972 | Up 33.0% |
| Malaysia | 2,950,327 | Down 15.2% | 478,431 | Up 18.1% |
| Taiwan | 797,056 | Up 7.9% | 964,024 | Up 4.1% |
| United States | 754,840 | Up 1.1% | 746,158 | Up 19.9% |
| United Kingdom | 730,987 | Down 3.6% | 299,643 | Up 9.7% |
| Australia | 580,805 | Down 0.8% | 485,306 | Up 21.0% |
| Japan | 769,970 | Down 4.2% | 674,421 | Up 9.2% |
Five things the numbers tell us
- China is level pegging. Vietnam received about 18,000 more Chinese visitors than Thailand over the nine months, even though Chinese arrivals to Thailand grew faster this year.
- South Korea is Vietnam's stronghold. Vietnam drew more than three and a half times as many Korean visitors as Thailand, and Korean arrivals to Thailand fell by a quarter.
- Russia is the big swing. Russian arrivals to Vietnam more than doubled, reaching 1.13 million, close to Thailand's 1.27 million.
- Western long-haul markets still favour Thailand. Thailand drew more than twice as many British visitors as Vietnam, and more than twice as many from Germany and France, although Vietnam grew in all three.
- Thailand's neighbours matter more to Thailand. Malaysia alone sent almost 3 million visitors to Thailand, but that market fell by 15.2 per cent.
Why is Vietnam growing faster?
Vietnam's government, citing its National Statistics Office, puts the growth down to stability, favourable visa policies, stronger tourism promotion, a wider range of tourism products and competitive travel costs. Those are its own explanations, not MEM's findings, but visa access and price are the two factors expats in both countries tend to talk about most.
For Thailand, the picture is not all gloomy. The Ministry of Tourism and Sports figures reported by Khaosod English show close to 25 million foreign visitors between 1 January and 24 October, with spending of more than 1.21 trillion baht, although arrivals were 4.43 per cent down on the same period last year.
What it means if you live in Thailand
- Quieter months may stay quieter. If you run or work in a visitor-facing business, the softer Korean and Malaysian numbers are worth watching as the high season starts.
- Vietnam is an easy trip in both directions. Thai residents made 359,527 visits to Vietnam in the first nine months, up 10.1 per cent, while Vietnamese arrivals to Thailand fell 10.9 per cent to 463,768.
- Thinking about a move? MEM's Vietnam expat guides and our Vietnam talent visa versus Thailand DTV comparison cover the residency side; this piece is only about visitor flows.
FAQ
Has Vietnam overtaken Thailand in tourist numbers?
No. From January to September 2026 Thailand recorded about 23.2 million international arrivals and Vietnam about 17.7 million, but Vietnam grew by 14.5 per cent while Thailand fell by 3.8 per cent.
Does Vietnam get more Chinese tourists than Thailand?
Over January to September 2026, slightly more: 3,953,429 Chinese visitors to Vietnam against 3,935,434 to Thailand, according to the two official tables. The counting methods differ, so treat it as roughly level.
What is Vietnam's 2026 visitor target?
25 million international visitors. By the end of September it had reached nearly 71 per cent of that, according to the Vietnamese government.
Where do these numbers come from?
Thailand's figures are the Ministry of Tourism and Sports preliminary table for 2026. Vietnam's come from the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism and the National Statistics Office.
Sources and verification
Factual claims and service details were checked against the sources below on . Prices, rules and availability can change; confirm consequential decisions with the relevant authority or provider.
- International Tourist Arrivals to Thailand, January to September 2026 (preliminary data table)Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Thailand
- International visitors to Viet Nam in September and 9 months of 2026Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism
- Viet Nam welcomes 17.7 million international visitors in first nine months (6 October 2026)Viet Nam Government Portal
- Thailand welcomes 25 million foreign tourists in first 10 months (27 October 2026)Khaosod English