The four-day New Year holiday 2026, coupled with favorable weather, created ideal conditions for tourism activities nationwide. The entire industry estimated to welcome and serve 3.5 million visitors, creating positive momentum for this year's tourism season, the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism noted on 4/1.
Da Nang emerged as a standout performer, leading in international visitor numbers. The city served an estimated 630,000 visitors during this period, with international visitors accounting for more than half, approximately 345,000 arrivals. Total tourism revenue was estimated at 2,445 billion VND, with room occupancy reaching 70%. Four- and five-star hotels achieved 80% occupancy, and many coastal establishments reported a 90% occupancy rate. Accommodations from three stars and below reached 50-60% occupancy, with domestic visitors still constituting the majority.
According to Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a series of large-scale New Year's events, diverse promotional programs, and favorable weather contributed to the high increase in visitor numbers.
Popular events in Da Nang for early-year visitors included: the New Year Welcome Festival, featuring cultural, artistic, and entertainment activities at Dragon Bridge East Bank Park, Bach Dang Walking Street, and Hoi An. North of Dragon Bridge's East Bank, north of Dragon Bridge's West Bank, An Hoi Sculpture Garden, and 24/3 Square featured a series of New Year check-in models for tourists to take photos. Da Nang also hosted various art programs, such as Da Nang Concert 2026 and the Grand Light Festival.
On 1/1, Da Nang organized a welcoming program for eight international tour groups arriving from Manila, Incheon, Busan, Bangkok, Taipei, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore at Da Nang International Airport. On the same day, other tourist attractions, such as Hoi An Ancient Town (a World Cultural Heritage Conservation Center), My Son Sanctuary (temple complex), and Marble Mountains (scenic spot), also welcomed their first international visitors.
These results show that Da Nang surpassed the country's two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, in international visitor numbers, being three times higher than Hanoi and nearly five times higher than Ho Chi Minh City, and also exceeding Hanoi in tourism revenue.
Ninh Binh ranked second among destinations welcoming the most international visitors during the holiday, with nearly 178,000 arrivals.
Hanoi received the third-highest number of international visitors, with 110,000 arrivals, followed by Ho Chi Minh City (78,000 arrivals), Quang Ninh (70,500 arrivals), Khanh Hoa (48,000 arrivals), and Phu Quoc (30,000 arrivals).
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Tourists enjoy a cycling excursion while visiting Da Nang. Photo: Booking
According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, during this Tet holiday, tourists tended to choose short trips, focusing on relaxation, opting for easily accessible destinations, and emphasizing personal experiences, culinary exploration, and discovering new places.
The tourism industry also noted the rise of a trend combining travel with year-end parties. Many small corporate groups and friends took advantage of the holiday to organize parties combined with small-scale MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) tourism at resorts near major cities. Vietnamese travelers showed a preference for domestic destinations due to convenience, reasonable costs, and short holiday periods.
Phuong Anh
