The projection was shared by Nikita Kondratiev, Director of the Department for Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects at Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development, in an interview with the Russian news outlet News.ru, noting that the figure will surpass pre-pandemic peaks.

Data from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) shows that Russian arrivals crossed the one-million mark during the eight-month period of 2026, registering a 165.7% year-on-year surge, the fastest growth rate among Vietnam's key international source markets. During the pre-pandemic peak of 2018-2019, annual Russian arrivals hovered between 700,000 and 800,000.

Kondratiev attributed the exceptional rebound to the maintenance and expansion of direct flight routes, alongside seamless payment mechanisms such as QR-code transactions and MIR bank cards at select locations across Vietnam. This sharp influx has propelled Russia into Vietnam's third-largest tourism source market, trailing only traditional Northeast Asian powerhouses China and the Republic of Korea.

Earlier in June, the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR) reported that Russian arrivals reached over 742,000 in the first half of the year, multiplying 2.8 times compared to the same period in 2025.

The VNAT said that the boom stems from Vietnam's growing reputation as a safe, friendly, and premier Asian destination. The restoration of regular flights and an increased frequency of charter services have significantly enhanced accessibility for Russian travelers, who heavily favor year-round warm coastal destinaions such as Nha Trang, Mui Ne, and Phu Quoc for their tropical climate, diverse culinary offerings, and modern resort infrastructure.

Russia considers visa waiver for Vietnamese group tourists

VOV.VN - Russia is considering easing visa policy, including a possible visa waiver for Vietnamese tour groups, as it looks to attract more visitors from Vietnam, a fast-growing travel market with rising outbound demand.