Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang were the three most booked destinations by Vietnamese travelers during Q2 and for the upcoming 2/9 holiday, according to the Traveloka SEA Index report. Released by Traveloka, a leading Southeast Asian travel service application, on 11/8, the report indicates that this year's holiday travel demand focuses on destinations offering a blend of relaxation with cultural, historical, and local experiences.

Tourists taking photos in Hoi An, Da Nang in April. Photo: Giang Huy

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam's largest urban tourism hub, attracts approximately one in five domestic trips. Hanoi maintains its appeal through its array of historical relics, museums, cultural spaces, and numerous exhibitions, festivals, and art programs held during the holiday period.

Da Nang has shown strong growth across various categories, from hotel bookings and attraction tickets to family travel. Notably, ticket bookings for Ba Na Hills surged by 132% compared to the same period last year. The other two destinations that garnered significant interest from Vietnamese travelers for the holiday were Con Dao and Phu Quoc.

In Q2 alone, Phu Quoc led with a "Demand Score" of 100 points, reflecting an 86% increase in service bookings year-on-year. Following Phu Quoc were Con Dao with 96 points, Hoi An with 92 points, and Da Nang with 88 points. The Traveloka SEA Index uses the "Demand Score" to measure the growth rate of a destination's service bookings relative to the overall market.

Ms. Huynh Thi Mai Thy, Traveloka Country Manager, noted that Vietnamese travelers in Q2 continued to prioritize domestic destinations, a trend that contrasts with many other Southeast Asian markets where demand is shifting towards East Asia.

Across Southeast Asia, Traveloka identified 12 destinations experiencing above-average growth in service bookings. Da Nang was the only Southeast Asian destination to feature in this high-growth group.

Despite the preference for domestic travel, international travel demand among Vietnamese tourists is also showing signs of recovery. Bangkok emerged as the most searched international destination by Vietnamese travelers in Q2, with search volumes increasing by 61% year-on-year. The average length of stay in the Thai capital also rose from 3,2 to 3,6 nights.

Tokyo registered the fastest demand growth among international destinations for Vietnamese travelers, with bookings increasing by over 80% compared to the same period last year. Seoul followed, where the average spending by Vietnamese tourists was double that of trips to other Asian countries.

Phuong Anh