Thai tourism less attractive to Vietnamese tourists

Thailand, the dominant tourist destination in Southeast Asia for many years, is facing a decline in international tourists, including Vietnamese tourists.

Vietnamese tourists experience tourism in Thailand in mid-June 2025 - Photo: QT

In the first 5 months of 2025, there were only over 300,000 Vietnamese visitors to Thailand. The cautious sentiment is even more evident when some Vietnamese airlines have cut flight frequencies to avoid financial risks.

The tour is still running smoothly despite the cooling down.

Ms. Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, deputy general director of Vietravel , said that 5-day, 4-night Thailand tours are still organized regularly but have reduced frequency compared to the usual peak season.

"Instead of 4-6 groups/day like before, now there are only 1-2 groups/day due to the impact of the political situation in Thailand and Cambodia. However, customers are still traveling, there have been no cases of mass tour cancellations," Ms. Hoang shared.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tu Quy Thanh, director of Lien Bang Tourism Company, said that summer is always the peak season for outbound tourism, especially the Thai market.

"The company has an average of 4-6 groups of Vietnamese tourists going to Thailand each month, each group of about 30 people. Although the political situation is somewhat unstable, there are no official recommendations, airlines are still flying and demand is still high, so we still open tours with many diverse itineraries," said Mr. Thanh.

However, Mr. Thanh also noted that before the departure date, the business will update the situation for customers and tour guides to ensure absolute safety throughout the trip.

For independent travelers, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Tham, Go Vap District (HCMC), shared that she is still quite confident when understanding the situation in Thailand and still decided to visit her friend at the end of June "because it feels safe, the flight is close and shopping is easy".

According to Tuoi Tre, tours to Thailand are currently taking place quite regularly. Businesses selling Thailand tours with itineraries of about 5 days and 4 nights departing in June, July, August... at many attractive prices, ranging from nearly 5 to under 9 million VND, depending on the quality of services such as meals, hotels, and number of places to visit.

Businesses say Thailand is still the top destination that Vietnamese tourists love and choose for holidays or summer. The reason is that there are many activities and suitable costs, visa exemption, close flights, familiar destinations and easy to travel independently...

Vietnam Airlines cuts flights to Thailand

In contrast to the bustling tours, Vietnamese airlines are cautiously adjusting the frequency of flights to Thailand. From the second quarter of 2025, Vietjet has reduced the number of flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok from 4 to 3 flights/day.

Vietnam Airlines and Vietravel Airlines have also made similar moves. Notably, Bamboo Airways, which operates the Ho Chi Minh City - Bangkok (Don Mueang Airport) route with a frequency of 1 round trip/day, has temporarily stopped displaying this route on the online booking system.

A commercial manager of an airline said that the market to Thailand is not as vibrant as before. Flight occupancy rates sometimes reach only 60%, while fuel, personnel, and service costs remain high. This situation makes operating flights at a loss inevitable.

In addition, fierce competition on this route further thins the profit margins of airlines. In the same time frame, customers can choose between Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, Vietravel Airlines and a series of Thai airlines such as Thai Airways, AirAsia, Thai VietJet...

With many airlines operating on the same route, the pressure to discount prices is inevitable. For example, if you fly Vietjet from Tan Son Nhat to Suvarnabhumi Airport in mid-July, the cheapest ticket range on sale is from 1.2 to 1.4 million VND/trip (including taxes and fees), which is cheaper than domestic flights to Da Nang or Hanoi.

This price is considered "unprecedentedly cheap" compared to the 2022 - 2023 period, when the market had just reopened after the pandemic.

In particular, the domestic peak season is approaching, with strong demand for flights to destinations such as Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang... so airlines are prioritizing domestic exploitation to optimize fleet efficiency and profits.

"We are willing to sacrifice international slots in the short term, because when the market recovers, we can get them back. This is a temporary step to balance finances," an airline representative shared.

Thailand's tourism industry accounts for about 13% of the country's GDP and employs one-fifth of the country's workforce - Photo: REUTERS

The outlook depends on many factors.

Although the number of tourists traveling to Thailand remains stable thanks to attractive prices, factors such as security instability, tension in the Thai-Cambodian border area, as well as the resurgence of the epidemic, have made some tourists more hesitant.

Bamboo Airways representatives said that the airline is currently restructuring its operating system, including flights to Thailand. According to the airlines, the possibility of reducing operating frequency is based on factors such as assessing customer demand, psychology, and geopolitical risks affecting tourism trends in Thailand.

Since mid-May, the tense situation on the Cambodia-Thailand border has led to some border gates being tightened. In addition, concerns about domestic security and the resurgence of the epidemic have also contributed to making Vietnamese tourists more cautious when choosing Thailand as a destination.

"Previously, Bangkok was the first choice. Now, many customers are considering Singapore, Taiwan, or simply domestic travel such as Nha Trang, Da Nang, where airlines can rotate their fleet quickly, optimizing performance," said a travel expert.

Tourists to Thailand are guaranteed safety

Thailand, especially the capital Bangkok, is one of the most popular international destinations for Vietnamese visitors, with frequent flights from domestic airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways and Vietravel Airlines.

According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in 2024, the country will welcome 984,248 tourists from Vietnam, accounting for about 2.77% of total international visitors, ranking 11th among the largest tourist sending markets.

However, in the first 5 months of 2025, there were only more than 300,000 Vietnamese visitors to Thailand. According to the 2024 tourist behavior survey conducted by TAT, the activities that Vietnamese tourists love when coming to Thailand are cuisine, visiting historical sites, experiencing nightlife, massage and spa, sea and beach activities...

Speaking with Tuoi Tre, Ms. Supakan Yodchun, TAT representative in Ho Chi Minh City, affirmed that the Thai Government and all parties, including the public and private sectors, prioritize the safety and welfare of Thai citizens and international tourists.

“The current situation in major tourist areas remains stable, with no impact on travel or visitor experiences, except for some specific restricted border areas, and no impact on general tourist destinations,” said Supakan Yodchun.

NEGOTIATION - FAIR AND TRUST

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-lich-thai-bot-hap-dan-khach-viet-20250625082226863.htm