With the 4-day National Day holiday from 30/8 to 2/9 fast approaching, travel agencies predict Hanoi will be the top destination, as many people plan to visit the capital for the 80th National Day parade.

This explains the surge in round-trip airfares to Hanoi. For example, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi between 30/8 and 3/9 start at around 5 million VND for inconvenient flight times. For desirable flight times, travelers face prices of 5.6 to 6.5 million VND, depending on the airline, two to three times the usual fare.

While Hanoi hotels in the city center usually have vacancies during National Day holidays, demand to witness the 80th anniversary parade has created a shortage, particularly in prime locations. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Viet Travel, revealed that many hotels require full, non-refundable prepayment for bookings.

As of 12/8, data from the Mustgo booking platform, which partners with over 2,000 hotels nationwide, shows Hanoi as the focal point for the 2/9 holiday. Hotels in central areas, such as the Old Quarter or near Ba Dinh Square, have reached 85-90% occupancy for 4- and 5-star hotels and 80% for 3-star hotels.

Hanoi's Old Quarter in February. Photo: Pham Chieu

Hanoi's Old Quarter in February. Photo: Pham Chieu

In northern Vietnam, Sa Pa is another popular destination with 3-star hotels at approximately 65% occupancy from 31/8 to 2/9. 4-star hotels are almost fully booked on 30/8 and 31/8, while 5-star hotels average 65% occupancy throughout the 4-day holiday. However, demand for Sa Pa remains concentrated in the first two days.

Occupancy rates in Quang Ninh are not yet significantly high, with bookings in the old Ha Long city center still slow. Mustgo expects a rapid increase in bookings in the week leading up to the holiday.

Nghe An and Ha Tinh are seeing high early booking rates due to their accessibility by car. Most 4- and 5-star hotels in these provinces have reached 80% occupancy for the three holiday days from 30/8 to 1/9, dipping on 2/9, the final day.

Meanwhile, popular summer destinations like Da Nang and Hoi An are currently at only 20-30% occupancy across most hotel categories. High airfares pose a barrier for travelers, with round-trip flights from Hanoi costing around 3.8 to 4 million VND and from Ho Chi Minh City around 3.4 million VND, comparable to peak summer prices.

A Mutsgo representative noted that the current low occupancy figures don't fully reflect the situation, as many book last minute.

In the south, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, and Da Lat, easily accessible by car or bus from Ho Chi Minh City, haven't seen a surge in bookings. With many travelers booking at the last minute, Mustgo predicts potential increases in the coming week, particularly in Phan Thiet, due to its well-developed tourism infrastructure and favorable weather.

Tourists relax on Mui Ne beach (formerly Binh Thuan, now Lam Dong) in July. Photo: Viet Quoc

Tourists relax on Mui Ne beach (formerly Binh Thuan, now Lam Dong) in July. Photo: Viet Quoc

Meanwhile, most hotels in Phu Quoc have dropped their National Day surcharges due to low domestic demand. 5-star hotels, abundant in both the North and South Island, are currently at around 30% occupancy. 4-star hotels in the North Island and central areas, such as Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel & Spa, are at about 60% for the nights of 30/8, 31/8, and 1/9. Resorts and villas in the South Island are at approximately 40%.

Despite low booking rates, Phu Quoc airfares are rising. Round-trip tickets for 29/8 to 2/9 range from 5.4 to 8 million VND, depending on the airline and flight time, similar to Lunar New Year or the 30/4 holiday, often considered more expensive than trips to China or Thailand.

According to a Viet Travel representative, the current high airfares across popular destinations, despite demand not yet booming, are "completely normal." Airlines consider the 2/9 holiday a peak period, preventing travel agencies from securing group discounts and forcing them to purchase individual tickets at retail prices. Lower fare categories are often unavailable, leaving mostly standard fares and above.

Reasonable airfares can be found with early planning. However, during holidays, airlines often face imbalanced demand, with high outbound traffic but low return traffic. High peak season fares help address this issue.

This year, Vu believes domestic tourism will outperform the same period last year due to major events, despite a 10% increase in tour prices driven by higher airfares. Domestic tours account for over 60% of the company's bookings compared to outbound tours for the 2/9 holiday. The allure of Northern Vietnam, combined with significant historical and cultural events, is driving a shift towards domestic tourism, allowing people to experience the festive atmosphere and special events.

Tu Nguyen - Tam Anh