Nha Trang leads the international destinations for South Korean tourists this summer

Nha Trang leads the international destinations for South Korean tourists this summer.

Nha Trang has surpassed Tokyo, last year’s most popular destination, to become the top choice for South Korean travelers this summer.

In the face of unusual hot weather in South Korea, many citizens of the country tend to plan their travel early in the summer. According to newly released data, the coastal city of Nha Trang in Vietnam has become the most preferred international destination for Korean tourists during this period.

Nha Trang beach seen from above. Photo: Duc Thao

The global travel platform Agoda reported that based on hotel search data for check-in times in June and July, Nha Trang has surpassed Tokyo – last year’s most popular destination – to become the top choice for South Korean travelers this summer. The next most searched destinations include Fukuoka, Osaka (Japan), and Da Nang (Vietnam), ranked third to fifth respectively.

Agoda notes that the ongoing trend of global inflation is causing travelers to shift towards closer destinations with reasonable prices and shorter flight times.

China has also emerged as an attractive new destination as searches for the cities of Qingdao and Shanghai skyrocketed by 212% and 207%, respectively. This is due to the temporary visa exemption policy for South Korean citizens implemented by China starting from November 2023.

Korean tourists strolling on Nha Trang beach in May 2025. Photo: Bui Toan

For domestic tourism, Jeju Island continues to be the most searched destination, followed by Seoul, Busan, Sokcho, and Gangneung. Among them, Sokcho and Gangneung in Gangwon Province have seen an increase in interest thanks to the Donghae Line railway starting operation at the end of last year, significantly improving access to the eastern coast of South Korea.

“This summer is predicted to have extreme heat and a prolonged rainy season, many people are inclined to adjust their holiday schedule to start earlier than usual,” commented a representative of Agoda. Typically, the summer vacation for office workers in South Korea occurs from the end of July to the beginning of August, but starting early helps save on accommodation costs and avoid the crowds during peak season.

With a coastline stretching nearly 400 km, featuring three bays – Nha Trang, Van Phong, and Cam Ranh – among the most beautiful in the world, Khanh Hoa attracts visitors from countries that prefer warm sea areas. In 2024, the province expects to welcome about 4.8 million international tourists, including over 2.4 million from South Korea.

Source: The Korea Times