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A recent survey by market research firm Milieu Insight found that interest in U.S. travel has declined sharply in Singapore, with 55% of respondents saying they were less interested to visit this year.

In contrast, 57% of Vietnamese and 49% of Filipinos said they were more eager to travel to the U.S. compared to six months ago.

This year U.S. visa procedures have undergone major changes.

On Sept. 2 the interview waiver for most non-immigrant visa renewals will end. Visa applicants will have to pay an extra $250 integrity fee starting Oct. 1, while a requirement to put up a financial guarantee of $15,000 – similar to putting up bail — is expected from Aug. 20.

But despite all this, demand in Vietnam to travel to that country remains strong.

Tour operator Du Lich Viet reported a 5-10% increase in U.S. tour bookings for the third and fourth quarters compared to last year.

Pan American Travel said visa applications and renewals by mail surged after the fee increase was announced.

Singaporean experts note that one reason for this sustained interest is Vietnam’s large overseas community in the U.S.

Data from the Pew Research Center in May showed that more than 2.1 million ethnic Vietnamese lived in the country as of 2023, making it one of the four largest Asian diasporas in the U.S., after those of the Philippines, India and China.

Ngo Van Thoa, director of Pan American Travel, said the U.S. remains a global magnet, not just in Vietnam.

“Humans have a conquering nature. The more difficult a destination is to reach, the more tourists want to conquer it.”

Beyond tourism, the U.S. is an economic and cultural powerhouse with a diverse, multi-ethnic society in terms of cuisine, music and lifestyle.

While issues such as discrimination and tariffs discourage some international travelers, Vietnamese tourists seem to shrug them off.

Agency Du Lich Viet’s deputy general director, Pham Anh Vu, said safety is not a major concern for Vietnamese traveling to the U.S. since most go on organized tours or stay with relatives.

Vu Thi Quynh Hoa, deputy director of Con Ga Vang Ninh Thuan Resort, who has visited the U.S. 10 times, said there are security issues but they could be avoided with careful planning and following basic safety rules.

Vu Thi Quynh Hoa (L) and her husband visit Hollywood, Los Angeles, U.S. in June 2025. Photo courtesy of Vu Thi Quynh Hoa

The peak U.S. travel season for Vietnamese tourists is September-October when the weather is pleasant and the fall scenery charming.

According to Du Lich Viet, U.S. tours are expensive, with a seven- to nine-day trip to destinations like Los Angeles, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Hoover Dam, and San Diego typically costing VND50-65 million ($1,900-2,472).

East Coast tours covering New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, cost VND60-75 million.

“For many Vietnamese, a trip to the U.S. marks a milestone, a symbol of success and the achievement of conquering one of the toughest visas in the world,” Hoa added.