Travellers enjoy a scenic cable car ride over the mountains in Sapa, Vietnam, sharing joyful moments during their winter holiday. BELL KA PANG, Shutterstock
Digital travel platform Agoda has revealed a notable increase in intra-regional travel interest across Southeast Asia during the first half of 2026. Vietnam has become a standout destination, with search interest from the Philippines soaring by 98%. The country's appeal is attributed to expanded visa-free access, longer stay durations, and improved flight connectivity.
Agoda's data shows that Vietnam has entered the top five outbound destinations for Filipino travellers, ranking third. Andrew Smith, Senior Vice President of Supply at Agoda, noted, "The first half of 2026 had its complexities, but what we saw is that travellers don't stop wanting to travel. They tend to shift towards destinations that are closer and easier to get to instead."
Malaysia also experienced increased interest, particularly from Cambodia, where accommodation searches rose by 24%. This growth aligns with Tourism Malaysia's promotional efforts as part of its Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Indonesia, too, saw a rise in search interest, with increases of 18% from Malaysia and 17% from Singapore.
Agoda's survey indicates that nearly a third of travellers plan short trips of one to three days in 2026, making Southeast Asia an ideal destination for quick getaways. The region's proximity and connectivity facilitate frequent, seamless travel. Travellers can explore a wide range of options on Agoda's platform, which offers over 130,000 flight routes and more than 6 million holiday properties.
This story was selected and published by a human editor, with content adapted from original press material using AI tools and checked by the editor before publication. Spot an error? Report it here.
