Russian tourist arrivals hit record high

Russia has now become Vietnam's third-largest source of international visitors after China and the Republic of Korea.

Russian arrivals could reach 1.5 million for the full year, according to Nikita Kondratyev, a senior official at Russia's Ministry of Economic Development. That would surpass the 700,000 to 800,000 arrivals recorded in 2018 and 2019.

The rise has been supported by the resumption of direct flights and more convenient payment options for Russian travellers. Overall, Vietnam received nearly 16 million international visitors in the first eight months, a 14.4% increase.