Vietnam’s Nha Trang emerges as top early summer destination for Korean travelers

As Korea faces unseasonably hot weather, more travelers are planning early summer vacations - and the coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, has emerged as the most popular international destination among Korean tourists, according to recent data.
Nha Trang – điểm đến biển đảo hấp dẫn toàn cầu mùa Hè 2025
A beach in Nha Trang, Vietnam. (Source: baokhanhhoa.vn)

Global travel platform Agoda revealed on Thursday that based on hotel search data for June and July check-ins, Nha Trang ranked No. 1 among Korean travelers’ preferred overseas destinations.

Often called the “Naples of Vietnam,” the city overtook last year’s top pick, Tokyo, which dropped to second place. Other highly searched destinations included Fukuoka and Osaka in Japan and Da Nang in Vietnam, placing third through fifth, respectively.

The continued global inflation trend appears to be shifting demand toward nearby destinations that offer affordable prices and shorter flight times.

China is also emerging as a new hotspot. Search volumes for Qingdao and Shanghai surged by 212 percent and 207 percent, respectively. This spike is attributed to China’s temporary visa exemption program for Korean nationals, introduced in Nov. 2023.

For domestic travel, Jeju Island remains the most searched destination, followed by Seoul, Busan, Sokcho, and Gangneung. Gangwon Province's Sokcho and Gangneung, in particular, have seen increased interest since the opening of the Donghae Line (East Sea Line) late last year, which has significantly improved accessibility to Korea’s eastern coastline.

“Due to forecasts of extreme heat and a prolonged monsoon season this summer, many travelers appear to be moving up their vacation plans,” said an Agoda official.

While most Korean office workers typically take summer holidays from late July to early August, early travel offers advantages such as lower accommodation costs and a chance to avoid peak-season crowds.

Related News
Argentina newspaper highlights Vietnam as destination for world leaders
4th P4G Summit: A golden opportunity for Vietnam to position itself as a green investment destination
Vi Rong Cape emerges as pristine tourism gem
Vietnam Airlines begins direct route linking Nha Trang with Busan
Over 1,500 Korean runners to join Halong Bay Heritage Marathon 2025 in Vietnam
(Source: Korea Times)