FROM the breathtaking Kawasan Falls and Moalboal’s world-famous sardine run to the pristine white sands of Bantayan Island and historic landmarks like Magellan’s Cross and Fort San Pedro, Cebu continues to enchant both local and international travelers.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of cebu/fb page
CEBU CITY — Cebu is fast emerging as a favored destination for Vietnamese travelers, with tourism officials crediting improved connectivity, diverse attractions and sustained promotional efforts for the growing interest.
The trend was highlighted by digital travel platform Agoda, which identified Cebu as an increasingly popular choice among Vietnamese tourists.
Cebu Provincial Tourism Office head Rowena Montecillo welcomed the development, saying it reflects years of collaboration between government agencies and the private sector to position Cebu as a premier international destination.
“The growing number of Vietnamese visitors is a testament to the collective efforts of our tourism stakeholders in promoting Cebu to the international market,” Montecillo told the Daily Tribune.
She said the province has invested in tourism infrastructure, strengthened air connectivity and continued training programs for tourism workers to ensure quality service for international visitors.
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What sets Cebu apart, Montecillo said, is the variety of experiences travelers can enjoy in a single trip.
“Unlike many destinations where visitors have to choose between nature, culture or city life, Cebu offers all of these in one place,” she said.
Tourists can swim with whale sharks in Oslob, dive with sea turtles and witness the famous sardine run in Moalboal, chase waterfalls in Badian, go island-hopping to Sumilon Island, or explore Cebu City’s heritage sites, street food and vibrant urban scene.
Air connectivity has also improved. Vietnam Airlines operates twice-weekly direct flights between Cebu and Hanoi, while Cebu Pacific flies three times a week between Cebu and Ho Chi Minh City. Flight time is about four hours, with additional connections available through Philippine Airlines, Scoot and other carriers.
Montecillo said the province remains committed to improving its tourism products while promoting sustainable and inclusive tourism that benefits local communities.
The Department of Tourism in Central Visayas echoed the optimism.
Regional Director Gelena Asis-Dimpas said the Vietnamese market has been steadily developing over the past two years, citing the arrival of an incentive group of more than 200 Vietnamese visitors through a chartered flight organized by Unicity.
Beyond leisure travel, Cebu continues to attract Vietnamese students enrolled in English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) programs.
Data from the Cebu Association of Language Academics showed Vietnam ranked as the fifth-largest source of ESL students from February 2025 to January 2026, with 1,021 enrollees, behind Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and China, underscoring Cebu’s growing appeal as both a tourism and education destination.
