Despite the New Year holiday being extended to four days following a decision to swap working days, the tourism market shows a varied picture across different destinations.

Shifts in traveler planning habits, combined with a surge of international visitors during the peak year-end season, have created a mixed market. While major cities and popular coastal destinations report high occupancy rates, some traditional resort "capitals" face an oversupply of rooms.

In key urban centers and major tourist hubs, the influx of international visitors is driving the recovery of the high-end accommodation segment. In Ho Chi Minh City, many prominent hotels in the city center, such as Caravelle and Pullman, announced they were fully booked a month ago. A representative for Kim Do Hotel on Nguyen Hue walking street stated that all 127 rooms were reserved from 31/12 to 3/1. According to the hotel, year-end demand primarily comes from international markets, with plans made in advance for Christmas and New Year celebrations.

People and tourists gather to celebrate in the Ho Chi Minh City center during Christmas 2025. Photo: Duc Dong

Similarly, the coastal city of Da Nang is experiencing strong growth in foreign visitor numbers. The booking rate here reached approximately 90% for the upcoming holiday. A Pullman Da Nang representative noted that the increase in guests is mainly due to international tourists celebrating the year-end holiday, helping the hotel maintain stable high occupancy. The presence of visitors from key markets not only fills accommodations but also activates a range of associated services, from restaurants to entertainment venues.

Beyond coastal destinations, overnight cruise tourism is also receiving positive signals from foreign guests. In the northern region, cruises on Ha Long Bay were almost fully booked for the New Year holiday by late november. A Paradise Vietnam cruise representative stated that 100% of bookings for the Christmas and New Year period were from international guests from India, Taiwan, Trung Quoc, My, and Phap. Most travelers opted for a two days and one night itinerary, while about 20% chose longer trips to fully enjoy the world heritage site.

The vibrancy of markets dependent on international tourists contrasts sharply with the situation in the tourism "capital" of Da Lat, which traditionally relies on domestic visitors. Unlike the usual crowds, on online booking platforms such as Booking.com and Agoda, approximately 50% of accommodations in Da Lat’s city center still have rooms available from 31/12 to 3/1.

Many high-end hotels and resorts like Hotel Colline, Mercure, or Da Lat Palace Heritage, with prices ranging from 1,9 million to 5 million dong per night, are not yet fully booked. This reflects cautious spending by domestic tourists, as well as a trend towards new destinations or opting for staycations.

In Da Lat’s budget segment, the situation is even quieter. Guesthouses and small hotels priced from 500,000 to 800,000 dong per night currently operate at less than 50% capacity. A representative for Hoang Linh Phat Hotel on 3/2 street reported that with nearly 200 rooms, current occupancy is less than half, a decrease of over 50% compared to the same period last year. Despite the holiday extension to four days, many accommodation owners here admit that business remains challenging, with bookings falling short of expectations.

Foreign tourists relax at Bai Khem, Phu Quoc special zone in december. Photo: Thanh Nguyen

Bui Thanh Tu, Marketing Director of Best Price, explained that destinations fully booked this season are mainly near large cities or easily accessible by personal transport. For Phu Quoc and Da Nang, high room occupancy is due to entering the peak season for international tourists, which began in mid-december. According to him, this differentiation shows the tourism market operating at two different speeds: one segment driven by stable international travel schedules and another influenced by fluctuations and the cautious spending mindset of domestic travelers.

Additionally, transportation costs play a key role in shaping traveler flows. Round-trip airfares for the Ha Noi - Phu Quoc route during the holiday fluctuate around 5,9 million dong, an increase of up to 52% compared to regular days. Flights from Ha Noi to Da Nang and Nha Trang also saw increases of 30% and 51% respectively. Notably, return flights on the last day of the holiday (4/1) from Nha Trang and Phu Quoc to Ha Noi are experiencing ticket scarcity, pushing prices to between 3,9 million and 4,4 million dong per trip.

Mr. Tu observed a significant difference between outbound and inbound flights, which is not due to the holiday extending from one day to four days. The main reason is that the last day of the holiday falls on a weekend, combined with fewer flights and concentrated demand, leading to higher prices.

However, the announcement of the four-day holiday schedule close to the holiday period (25/12) also caused many travelers to miss out on international travel plans. Minh Hoang, a tourist from Ha Noi, expressed regret at not being able to arrange a trip to Han Quoc because tour operators had closed bookings and there was insufficient time to complete visa procedures. This change forced some travelers to switch to visa-free destinations in Dong Nam A or choose domestic holidays in nearby locations.

Tourists at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, Han Quoc. Photo: Daily Sabah

Tran Phuong Linh, Marketing - Information Technology Director at BenThanh Tourist, stated that most international tour products to Thai Lan, Trung Quoc, Nhat Ban, and Han Quoc were sold out by early december. Currently, travel agencies are focusing on Tet Nguyen Dan (Lunar New Year) products rather than making further adjustments for the early year holiday.

Similarly, Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Du Lich Viet, noted that the holiday schedule changed close to the date, so most international tour products were already "closed", with only a few domestic options remaining. Mr. Vu did not expect an increase in confirmed bookings, as most had already been made from the beginning of the month.

Ms. Linh stated that the stability in businesses' planning shows that the New Year holiday is gradually becoming a stepping stone, while all market resources and expectations are directed towards the longest holiday of the year.

According to Mr. Vu's assessment, hotels in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, or Ha Long are largely fully booked thanks to the recovery of the international market, while the domestic segment is still seeking options that balance experience and cost. This will be an important basis for managers and travel businesses to adjust product strategies and prepare for subsequent peak seasons in the new year.

Tuan Anh - Tu Nguyen