Vietnam's aviation sector saw a significant surge in international travelers during the recent five-day National Day holiday, from 29/8 to 2/9. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the market handled nearly 1,2 million passengers, marking a 10,4% increase compared to the previous year.

International arrivals were the primary driver, reaching over 670,000, which accounted for 56% of total passengers. This figure surpassed domestic travelers by over 143,000. Both international and domestic segments grew by over 10% year-on-year, reflecting a simultaneous rise in air travel demand across both markets.

The holiday's busiest day was 29/8, with approximately 280,000 passengers passing through Vietnamese airports, a 21% increase from the same period last year. While domestic passenger numbers rose sharply on the first day of the holiday, the overall volume of international visitors remained higher.

Major international gateways experienced substantial growth. Noi Bai International Airport recorded the highest increase in total passengers at 23,5%, with international passenger traffic alone climbing by 15%. Da Nang International Airport saw a 16,8% rise, and Tan Son Nhat International Airport grew by 9,7%.

International passenger traffic was also robust at key tourist destinations. During the five-day period, Da Nang operated 312 international flights, while Cam Ranh handled 416 flights. These flights served primary markets such as South Korea, Russia and CIS countries (Commonwealth of Independent States), China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

Foreign airlines demonstrated a higher growth rate during this period. They transported over 417,000 passengers, marking a 16,4% increase year-on-year. In contrast, Vietnamese airlines carried nearly 781,000 passengers, a 7,4% rise. International passengers handled by Vietnamese airlines specifically increased by 2%.

Thi Ha