Van Ha, a tourist from Ha Noi, arrived at landmark 0 in Ha Giang ward at 8h on 25/4 and witnessed a long line of people waiting. According to Ha's observations, tourists queued for over 100 m in two directions, with each person waiting 20 minutes to take a photo.
This tourist also noted that the attraction is typically busy in the early morning as tour groups and independent travelers preparing to depart for other districts often take photos at the center. The landmark 0 area becomes less crowded closer to noon or in the afternoon.
On monday, 26/4, the VinWonders Vu Yen tourist area and transit points to Cat Ba island (Hai Phong) faced severe overcrowding, welcoming thousands of visitors.
At VinWonders Vu Yen, a new amusement park operating since summer 2025, lines stretched for hundreds of meters from opening. Visitors slowly advanced under the early season heat to reach the attractions.
A similar situation occurred at Cat Hai cable car station and Dong Bai ferry terminal. Since Dong Bai ferry temporarily suspended passenger cars during peak holiday and weekend hours, a large number of tourists shifted to the cable car. Tour groups and large parties were advised to walk onto the ferry to reduce vehicle load and save time.
Ngoc Anh, a tourist from Ha Noi, stated that her group arrived at the cable car station at 9h to find thousands of people waiting from the outer lobby to the main station. "Cat Ba currently offers many activities like fireworks displays and a night market, attracting a large number of visitors", Ngoc Anh said.
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Tourists gather at Ao Tien port. Photo: Thuong Vu |
During this period, Dong Bai ferry terminal operated at full capacity with five ferries. To alleviate congestion, the Hai Phong Department of Construction announced a halt to passenger cars and trucks crossing by ferry to Cat Ba island from 25/4 to 3/5 and on weekends from May to the end of September, between 9h and 13h. Tourists were advised to reach the island by cable car, speedboat, or bus.
Statistics from Ao Tien port (Van Don) show that on the first day of the holiday, 102 ferry trips transported about 13,000 visitors to various islands. Of these, Co To received the most visitors with over 6,700, followed by Minh Chau and Quan Lan. On the morning of 26/4, the port continued to approve 30 ferry trips carrying over 3,000 passengers.
Thuong Vu, a tourism professional in Van Don, said the Ao Tien port area was overwhelmed on 25/4.
"Many visitors who did not book tickets in advance could not go to the islands and had to find temporary accommodation on the mainland", Thuong said.
In Central Vietnam, destinations such as Hue, Da Nang, and Phu Quy island (Lam Dong) saw a sharp increase in visitors, with many areas experiencing overcrowding.
In Hue, from early morning, historical sites like Dai Noi, Thien Mu Pagoda, the Nguyen kings' tombs, and central streets such as Le Loi and Le Duan were packed. Accommodation, dining services, and transportation operated at full capacity.
According to the Hue City Department of Tourism, during the holiday from 25/4 to 3/5, the locality expects to welcome about 699,500 visitors, an increase of nearly 11% compared to the same period last year. International visitors are estimated at about 150,000. Tourism revenue is projected to reach 1,630 billion dong, with average hotel room occupancy around 95%. Specifically, for the five peak days from 29/4 to 3/5, visitor numbers are estimated at 389,000, and average room occupancy rises to 97%.
In Da Nang, My Khe beach, Son Tra peninsula, and the city center were crowded from morning to evening, causing localized traffic jams on coastal roads. Many hotels and restaurants were fully booked. Representatives from Ba Na Hills tourist area anticipate a visitor increase of about 20% over the three-day holiday compared to the same period.
On Phu Quy island (Lam Dong), from early morning, ferry terminals and roads around the island were packed. Tourists gathered at spots like Bai Nho - Ganh Hang, Doc Phuot, and coastal cafes. Accommodation, dining, and motorbike rental services consistently faced overload.
Hong Linh, 23 years old, a tourist from TP HCM, noted that at popular spots like the lonely tree and Bai Can beach, waiting times for photos sometimes exceeded 30 minutes. According to Linh, with all check-in points crowded, visitors faced long waits for a good photo angle.
In TP HCM, residents flocked to entertainment venues near the city center such as Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden and Suoi Tien Theme Park. On 26/4, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Garden welcomed about 27,000 visitors. Suoi Tien Theme Park also served about 10,000 visitors, an increase of 10-15% compared to the same period last year.
High tourism demand during the long holiday is the main reason for the overcrowding at many destinations. To mitigate congestion, local authorities have increased traffic regulation, ensured security, and advised visitors to plan their itineraries proactively.
Tam Anh - Tuan Anh
