Tourism Demand Surges Amid Fluctuating Prices

The extended five-day holiday, commemorating the historical milestones of April 30 and May 1, is expected to witness an upswing in tourism demand. However, the instability in service prices, particularly airfares, required that travelers exercise careful consideration prior to finalizing their plans.

Domestic tours to mountainous and coastal regions gain popularity

Domestic tours to mountainous and coastal regions gain popularity; non-visa international tours draw interest

Peaceful seaside destinations in the country are gaining significant interest from Vietnamese tourists. A report from Booking.com, based on search data from March 17 to April 6, reveals that 75% of tourists are seeking out cool destinations, with 82% favoring locations in proximity to the sea. Da Lat, renowned for its cool climate and tranquil natural landscape of mountains and hills, tops as the most sought-after destination in Vietnam. Other popular locations that are attracting attention include Da Nang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Phan Thiet, and Mui Ne.

Mr. Le Quoc Viet, Director of Santa Sea Villa Hoi An Hotel, said that his hotel has achieved a room occupancy of over 70%, of which about 80% of customers are Vietnamese. With the trend of booking rooms close to the departure date, the number of visitors to Hoi An and other tourist destinations in the country will increase in the coming days.

On the contrary, unlike domestic tours, a survey of some outbound travel companies showed that Vietnamese tourists currently tend to choose destinations that are close or do not require visas, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, due to their comprehensive travel packages. Packages and air tickets are affordable.

Booking.com also said, among international destinations booked most by Vietnamese travelers on this occasion, Bangkok (Thailand) takes the lead, followed by Singapore, Seoul (South Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Tokyo (Japan), Bali (Indonesia) - Ubud - Dolphin watching at Lovina), Ubud, Bali for dolphin watching in Lovia (Indonesia), Boracay (the Philippines), Hong Kong (China), Phuket and Chiang Mai (Thailand).

Tranquil destinations in the country are attracting substantial attention from Vietnamese travelers

Significant surge in airfare prices

Airfare prices are experiencing a significant upward trend. For instance, round-trip tickets on Vietjet Air for flights departing from Hanoi to Phu Quoc on April 27 and returning on May 1 are priced between VND8.5-10 million, marking an increase of VND1.5-2 million from the previous week. Similarly, round-trip economy tickets for flights from Hanoi to Nha Trang surpassed VND7 million. Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang range from VND3.9 million to VND5 million, mirroring the prices observed during the Lunar New Year period.

Mr. Pham Tien Dung, Director of Goldentour, said that airfare prices, on both domestic and international routes, show considerable fluctuations on a trip-by-trip basis. The cost of domestic flights around the holiday period has escalated compared to previous years, while international flights have begun to register substantial price hikes. In response to these elevated ticket prices, travel companies have demonstrated flexibility by innovatively designing a variety of new tours and destinations, thereby offering more choices to customers.

To serve increased demand during the holiday, Vietnam Airlines announced that it will increase more than 2,000 late-hour flights after 9:00 p.m. every day on main routes such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Nha Trang and Quy Nhon. The airline is also offering attractive promotions: 20% discount for customers buying flexible economy or standard economy tickets on their next purchase, 10% discount for groups of four or more people and 15% discount for groups of eight or more people. In addition, the firm has applied a 5% discount to customers buying tickets 30 days before departure.

Meanwhile, Vietjet planned to add 86,000 seats, equivalent to 425 flights, on tourist routes during the holiday to meet high demand and reduce pressure on ticket prices. The airline also announced that it will increase the number of aircraft operating hours per day from 12-13 hours to 13-14 hours and reduce aircraft turnaround time from 45 minutes to 30-35 minutes.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, during this peak holiday, domestic airlines are expected to supply about 900,000 seats on domestic routes, an increase of 4.2% in seats and 5.5% in flights from the same holiday in 2023. The number of operational aircraft is expected to range from 165 to 170.

To ensure an economical yet appealing holiday, it is advisable for travelers to devise their plans in advance, capitalize on promotional offers from airlines, and secure accommodation bookings ahead of time. Opting for domestic destinations or international tours that do not necessitate a visa can also serve as an effective solution to enjoy a comprehensive vacation without undue concern over expenses. It is recommended that travelers remain watchful for promotional information and demonstrate flexibility in altering their plans to have the most advantageous deals.

Phu Quoc, a renowned tourist destination in Kien Giang province

By Giang Tu, Vietnam Business Forum