Nguyen Ngoc Huong Trang, 28, from Ho Chi Minh City, secured her tickets and hotel room in Hanoi back in early July. Her trip to Hanoi for the National Day holiday fulfills two major goals for the year: witnessing the 50th Reunification Day parade (A50) in Ho Chi Minh City and the A80 celebrations in Hanoi.

Based on booking numbers, several CEOs and directors of travel companies in Vietnam anticipate a massive influx of tourists to Hanoi for the holiday, particularly from the south.

"Many hotels in Hanoi are fully booked, with prices two to three times higher than usual," said Pham Anh Vu, deputy general director of Du Lich Viet travel company. Later arrivals have had to book hotels outside the city center or split their groups across multiple hotels. Some have even adjusted their plans, opting to stay overnight in neighboring provinces and visit Hanoi for the day. Bookings for tours and package deals (flights and accommodation) to Hanoi through Vu's company have increased by 30% compared to the same period last year.

Helicopters practice a 10-aircraft formation for the A80 event in Hanoi. Photo: Giang Huy

Helicopters practice a 10-aircraft formation for the A80 event in Hanoi. Photo: Giang Huy

Tran Thi Bao Thu, marketing and communications director of Vietluxtour, attributes the increased interest to the early promotion of the A80 event and the lingering excitement from the A50 celebrations in April. Bookings from southern Vietnam to Hanoi for the National Day holiday are up 40% compared to last year, with 60% of those being package tours.

Vietluxtour has also seen a significant increase in international tourists from Australia, South Korea, and Europe booking tours connecting Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi for the holiday. "The increase is around 25-30% compared to the same period last year," said Thu.

According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the capital welcomed nearly 18.4 million visitors in the first seven months of the year, including an estimated 4.2 million international tourists, a 22% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Total tourism revenue reached an estimated 73,000 billion VND, up nearly 15% year-on-year.

Hanoi has developed various tours for the National Day holiday, including one-day inner-city tours, suburban excursions, combined Hanoi and neighboring destination tours, culinary and cultural experiences, and night tours.

Domestic travel companies have launched products centered around the A80 event. Pham Van Bay, deputy director of Vietravel's Hanoi branch, said the "In Sync with the National Concert" tour, a two-day, one-night trip to Hanoi including a visit to the Vietnam Military History Museum, is one of their most popular offerings.

Tourists on a boat in Ninh Binh this summer. Photo: Vietluxtour

Tourists on a boat in Ninh Binh this summer. Photo: Vietluxtour

While Hanoi is the primary destination, Hoi An and Phu Quoc are also popular choices for Vietnamese travelers in August and September.

Tours combining Ninh Binh-Hanoi, Ha Long-Hanoi, and Tuyen Quang-Hanoi (three days, two nights) are also attracting significant interest. These tours feature quality hotels located near the parade route, offering convenient access for tourists.

"These are not just ordinary tours. They offer an opportunity for tourists nationwide to learn about history and culture while participating in a major national event in Hanoi," Bay said.

Police special vehicles rehearse for A80. Photo: Giang Huy

Police special vehicles rehearse for A80. Photo: Giang Huy

Beyond tour operators, Hanoi is also prepared for the influx of visitors during this National Day holiday. According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, the city launched several new tourism products in July, such as the "Southern Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Road" tour, a Dao herbal bath experience in Ba Vi, and rural agricultural tourism in Tich Loc commune.

Hanoi also offers 20 nighttime tourism products, including the Tran Vu Bell program at Quan Thanh Temple and new creative spaces like the Truc Bach Subsidy Street and Tram Car No. 6 - Leng Keng Heritage.

"A80 will witness a significant movement of tourists from the south to the north to watch the parade. This is a golden opportunity for Hanoi's tourism industry to thrive if we fully leverage these advantages," said Pham Anh Vu of Du Lich Viet.

Phuong Anh