Vietnam Emerges as Asia’s Top Value Destination, Says Travel Expert

Vietnam is quietly stealing the spotlight from its Southeast Asian neighbors, according to travel industry veteran Maya Kotlyar, founder of the MAYEL Travel agency. In a recent post on her Telegram channel, Kotlyar named Vietnam one of the best destinations in Asia for travelers seeking a strong balance of quality and cost. Over the past two years, she explained, the country has “seriously rebooted its tourism offering” and effectively taken over the niche once dominated by Thailand. “You might be surprised, but even die-hard Turkey fans—tourists who used to rent entire villas there for their families—are now flying to Vietnam in summer,” Kotlyar noted. “The prices are reasonable.” The expert credited the destination’s growing popularity to expanded direct flights, straightforward logistics, and a solid hotel base. “In my view, Vietnam has become one of the most successful alternatives to Thailand, which has gotten noticeably more expensive and, in some spots, overcrowded with tourists,” she concluded. This endorsement comes as earlier reports showed that Russian travelers are already planning their summer 2026 holidays around three beach destinations: Turkey, Egypt, and Vietnam—with Vietnam holding its own as a top contender.