Hanoi, Jan. 6 -- Vietnam's tourism sector marked a milestone year in 2025, with international arrivals reaching nearly 21.2 million, up more than 20.4% from 2024 and the highest level on record, highlighting the sector's strong recovery.

The surge in visitor numbers and tourism revenue made a significant contribution to growth in the services sector and the broader economy.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), more than 2 million international visitors arrived in December alone, up 15.7% year on year, pushing total arrivals for the year to a new high. Compared with 2019, the pre-COVID-19 benchmark, international arrivals rose by 17.8%.

A report by the National Statistics Office showed that Vietnam's gross dome...