A report by Yanolja Research in the Republic of Korea (RoK) forecasts that Japan, Vietnam, China and Thailand will together account for 65.2 per cent of the RoK’s total outbound travel demand. The number of Koreans travelling abroad is projected to exceed 30 million in 2026, up from an estimated 29 million in 2025.

Vietnam is anticipated to see a notable rebound in Korean arrivals in 2026. Under a stable scenario, the country could welcome about 4.56 million visitors from the RoK, an increase of roughly 4 per cent year on year. Analysts described the increase as a “technical recovery” following a decline of around 5 per cent in 2025, reinforcing Vietnam’s status as Southeast Asia’s most attractive destination for Korean tourists.

Compared with Thailand, which is Vietnam’s biggest regional competitor, the country is projected to significantly outperform in both scale and growth momentum in 2026. Korean arrivals to Vietnam have consistently outnumbered those to Thailand for years, especially since tourism gradually rebounded after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Between 2023 and the 2026 projection, Vietnam has maintained a higher level of Korean arrivals than Thailand. In 2024, the number of Korean tourists to both destinations rose sharply, up 27 per cent for Vietnam and 12 per cent for Thailand. In 2025, both countries recorded a decline, but Vietnam’s decrease was milder than Thailand’s steeper drop.

The report attributed Vietnam’s stronger appeal to several factors, including its reputation as a safe destination, which supports repeat travel. Vietnam is also seen as more price-competitive, while Thailand has gradually lost its image as a budget destination amid the appreciation of the Thai baht.

In addition, many airlines have begun rolling out promotional programmes to regain market share in Vietnam following capacity adjustments, helping create favourable conditions for a recovery in international arrivals.

Yanolja Research noted that Vietnam has evolved in the eyes of Korean travellers from a traditional holiday destination into a symbol of an ideal leisure retreat in Asia. Despite ongoing challenges, the country is set to stay well ahead of Thailand in attracting Korean tourists, supported by advantages in safety, exchange rates and overall economic stability.