During the first two days of the four-day National Day holiday (30/8 - 2/9), Khanh Hoa, one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, experienced unusually light traffic. Roads and ports were clear, unlike the congestion seen during previous holidays. Nha Trang's beaches, usually packed with visitors, were noticeably quieter. Most out-of-province visitors were independent travelers, primarily families driving from Ho Chi Minh City.

Nha Trang beach, typically crowded during holidays, is much quieter. Photo: Long Cung

Nha Trang beach, typically crowded during holidays, is much quieter. Photo: Long Cung

Tran Van Phu, Head of Nha Trang Tourist Port Management, reported that only a little over 4,000 visitors took boat trips to the islands on the first day of the holiday. This number was significantly lower than previous holidays and even less than a typical weekday during the peak summer season. Other popular attractions like the Ponagar Tower and the National Oceanographic Museum of Vietnam also saw fewer visitors.

In Quang Tri province, due to the impact of Typhoon No. 6, rising river levels forced the Phong Nha - Ke Bang Tourism Center to close several attractions under its management, including Phong Nha Cave, Tien Son Cave, Chay River - Toi Cave, and Nuoc Mooc Stream. A small number of tourists who had already arrived dined at the few restaurants that remained open, such as Son Doong (at Phong Nha wharf), Dark Cave, and Mooc Spring.

Similarly, in Sam Son (Thanh Hoa), the beach was almost deserted. Restaurants and eateries near the beach were closed, and many entertainment venues and tourist services were not operating. A group of tourists from Hanoi who arrived in Sam Son on 30/8 noted that the area had been consecutively affected by two typhoons, resulting in poor weather, overcast skies, rain, and rough seas. While the weather began to clear on 31/8, the area remained quiet, with no significant increase in visitor numbers.

In the north, most tourists flocked to Hanoi, leaving other typically crowded destinations unusually quiet. During the first two days of the holiday, the Dong Bai - Cai Vieng ferry terminal (Hai Phong City) saw significantly shorter wait times. Unlike the recent summer months and other holidays, drivers didn't have to wait 4-5 hours to board the ferry to Cat Ba Island.

"I only had to wait about 45 minutes," one Hanoi visitor said. The road leading to the Dong Bai ferry terminal had only about 50-70 cars, a stark contrast to the usual hundreds of cars queuing from morning till noon. Due to inclement weather, the ferry service was temporarily suspended on the afternoon of 30/8 but resumed normal operations on the morning of 31/8.

Quang Ninh province received 211,000 tourists during the first two days of the holiday, 74% of the number during the same period last year. Overnight stays reached 83,400, 76% of last year's figure. Total tourism revenue reached 580 billion VND, equivalent to 90% of the same period last year.

Nguyen Phi Hong Nguyen, Vice President of the Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, explained that many families chose to stay home or visit their hometowns for the holiday. Additionally, the 80th anniversary of National Day drew a large number of visitors to Hanoi and other northern provinces.

Viet Hung, director of a travel company in Hanoi, said that during this year's National Day holiday, most northern tourists traveled to Hanoi. Many Hanoi residents also stayed put to watch the parade. Moreover, the proximity of the holiday to the start of the new school year meant many families prioritized their children's back-to-school preparations.

A few localities reported visitor numbers similar to other holidays throughout the year. On the afternoon of 31/8, Vung Tau City became more lively with nearly 70,000 visitors, following a quieter first day. Traffic was slow along Thuy Van, Hoang Hoa Tham, Le Hong Phong, Ha Long, and Tran Phu streets. Seafood restaurants and cafes along the coast were busy, with many places fully booked for lunch.

Pham Khac To, Director of the Vung Tau Tourist Management and Support Center, stated that personnel were deployed to ensure security, sanitation, and rescue services to cater to the peak number of visitors.

In Dak Lak (formerly Phu Yen), accommodations and parking lots in Tuy Hoa were quite crowded on 30/8. Visitors mainly came from Gia Lai and Ho Chi Minh City. Hotels and homestays near the beach reached approximately 80% occupancy.

A representative of the Apec Mandala Wyndham Phu Yen hotel reported 80% occupancy, with 50% of guests coming from the Central Highlands. Most guests stayed on 30/8 and 31/8. The majority of visitors during this period came from southern provinces, benefiting from easy access via the expressway.

With the weather in central Vietnam forecast to be sunny after the typhoon in the next two days, tourist destinations in this region are likely to attract more visitors during the remaining days of the holiday.

Reporting team