On 10/2, online travel platform Trip.com released a survey on Vietnamese travel trends for the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. The analysis is based on user booking data up to 25/1 for departures between 13/2 and 25/2, compared to data from the same period in 2025 (bookings up to 7/1/2025 for the period 26/1 to 6/2/2025).

The survey revealed a distinct shift in how Vietnamese celebrate the 2026 Tet holiday. Instead of traditional activities, travelers are increasingly spending their long holiday abroad, prioritizing premium experiences and extended stays.

Vietnamese tourists check in Guizhou, 4/2025. *Photo: Onthemars*

Analysis of international booking data shows a breakthrough in East Asian markets. Korea leads in total bookings, but Japan and China are the "stars" in terms of growth rate.

Japan features new "hot spots" attracting Vietnamese visitors, with Fukuoka leading the fastest growth in bookings, increasing by more than 300%. Nagoya also holds the third position with an increase of over 200%.

China dominates the top 10, with three cities among the fastest-growing: Guangzhou (second), Beijing (fourth), and Shanghai (sixth). China also ranks second among top international destinations by Vietnamese bookings on Trip.com.

According to Nam Nguyen, General Director of Trip.com Vietnam, the "breakthrough growth" in Vietnamese visitors to China demonstrates the potential stemming from relaxed travel policies and cultural similarities in celebrating Tet between the two countries.

The survey also noted stable appeal from Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand (third), Malaysia (fifth), Singapore (sixth), and a distant market like Australia (ninth).

Compared to the same period last year, international air travel demand in Vietnam recorded a 67% growth. This is the highest growth rate in Southeast Asia, confirming the strong purchasing power and demand for overseas travel among Vietnamese.

Vietnamese travelers' accommodation quality standards significantly improved this Tet holiday. Over half of tourists (51%) chose 5-star hotels for their early-year getaway. Approximately 30% preferred the 4-star segment, and only 19% opted for 3-star accommodations or below. The trend of "treating oneself" with premium services is becoming a top priority for Vietnamese international travelers.

Vietnamese are trending towards planning their international trips closer to the departure date. The percentage of travelers booking at least 60 days in advance decreased from 49% in 2025 to 46% in 2026.

Conversely, Vietnam also saw a 60% increase in international arrivals during Tet. China, Korea, Japan, and Thailand were the main source markets. Notably, new markets like Spain experienced a sudden surge in visitors to Vietnam, increasing by over 300% compared to the same period.

Mai Phuong