A recent study by Yanolja Research on the Korean tourism market found steady growth in arrivals from several source markets in 2026. Notably, Vietnamese arrivals continued to rise despite cuts in flight capacity between the two countries.

The study pointed to the growing popularity of Korean culture as a key demand driver, with searches for K-culture-related content from Vietnam recording double-digit growth.

Data from the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Vietnam also showed that RoK welcomed 347,517 Vietnamese visitors in the first seven months of 2026, up 10% year on year and above the level recorded during the same period in 2019.

The steady growth highlights the appeal of the RoK as a destination for Vietnamese travellers and confirms Vietnam’s position as one of the country’s key source markets in Southeast Asia.

Vietnam is also regarded as a strategic market by KTO, which has been promoting tourism, improving services and developing measures to facilitate travel.

The number of Vietnamese visitors is expected to continue rising in the coming months, with October and November marking the autumn foliage season, one of the most popular periods for experiencing the RoK’s scenery.

According to Park Eun Jung, chief representative of the Korea Tourism Organisation in Vietnam, by promoting flexible multiple-entry visa policies and expanding routes to regional airports, she believed that travel barriers can be reduced, bringing Vietnamese visitors closer to RoK's nature and culture.

The RoK is promoting flexible multiple-entry visas valid for five and 10 years, while KTO Vietnam is introducing regional airports such as Gimhae International Airport in Busan, Cheongju, Daegu, Yangyang and Jeju to Vietnamese travel companies and airlines.

The development of direct routes to regional destinations could shorten travel times and give Vietnamese tourists more choices beyond traditional travel routes.

Yanolja Research also highlighted the role of flight availability in converting interest in the RoK into actual visits. Its latest analysis found that arrivals from Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines increased despite reductions in flight supply, suggesting that demand was supported by factors beyond air connectivity alone.

With K-culture continuing to generate interest, more flexible visa options and expanded connections to regional airports could provide additional support for Vietnamese travel to the RoK in the months ahead.

RoK extends visa fee waiver for Vietnamese tour groups through year-end

VOV.VN - The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Justice Ministry said on July 1 it will extend a waiver of visa application fees for group tourists from six countries, including Vietnam, through December 31 to support the recovery of inbound tourism, according to the Korea Herald.