KUALA LUMPUR - Vietnam has recorded nearly 2.1 million international visitors in March, marking the first time it has surpassed two million arrivals for three consecutive months within a single year.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said the milestone reflects the sector’s growing strength, resilience and appeal amid an uncertain global environment.

A total of 6.76 million international visitors were recorded over the three-month period, as reported by VnExpress International.

Of these, 82.3 per cent arrived by air, while 15.5 per cent entered by land and 2.2 per cent by sea.

Authorities said the dominance of air travel highlights Vietnam’s strong appeal to mid- and long-haul markets.

They added that such markets are typically more sensitive to geopolitical tensions and fuel price fluctuations.

Despite disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict, the high proportion of air arrivals signals continued connectivity and confidence in Vietnam as a safe and accessible destination.

Mainland China and South Korea remained the two largest source markets, accounting for around 40 per cent of total visitors.

Regional markets in Southeast Asia also posted strong growth.

Visitor arrivals from Malaysia rose by 21.5 per cent, while Singapore increased by 30 per cent.

Arrivals from Cambodia surged by 41 per cent, followed by Indonesia at 44 per cent and the Philippines at 69 per cent.

Tourist numbers from Thailand also grew by 6.5 per cent.

Vietnam is targeting 25 million international tourist arrivals this year.

In comparison, Thailand recorded 9.1 million visitors in the first quarter, representing a 2.29 per cent year-on-year decline.