Top tourist destinations expect overcrowding during April 30 holidays

Many destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang recorded room occupancy rates of 90% during the Reunification Day and Labor Day holidays, showing a strong recovery of domestic tourism.

Fireworks explode over the Saigon River to celebrate Vietnam's 50th reunification anniversary, April 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh TranMany destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang recorded room occupancy rates of 90% during the Reunification Day and Labor Day holidays, showing a strong recovery of domestic tourism.

Holiday planners started booking tours, air tickets, and hotels a month earlier.

Vu Van Tuyen, director of Travelogy Vietnam Tourism Company, said the number of tourists booking tours during this year's holidays has increased by 20-30% compared to the same period in 2024. Travel packages combining relaxation and cultural - historical experiences are leading in booking rates.

The weather during this period is often hot and sunny, so popular domestic destinations are coastal cities and plateaus with cool climate. The top 10 most searched domestic destinations are Da Nang, Da Lat, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue, Phu Quoc, Ha Long, Hanoi and Hoi An.

This year, airfares remain the biggest concern for many holidaymakers. Before April, round-trip airfares from Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Nha Trang ranged from VND4-6 million (US$153-230).

Near the holidays, the prices rose to VND4-10 million per a round-trip ticket. Air tickets from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City at this time are mainly only available in business class, with good flight schedules and prices ranging from VND8-10 million.

On this occasion, Ho Chi Minh City, which will host many events to celebrate the 50th reunification anniversary, has attracted many tourists.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the city's Department of Tourism, said the city currently has more than 3,200 accommodation facilities serving tourists. Of which, there are more than 130 hotels rated 1-5 star standards, with a total of about 55,000 rooms.

Hotels in district 1, district 4 and Ben Nha Rong area where many art performances, parades, fireworks, light festivals and cuisine events take place, have reached a capacity of 95% to 100%.

Travel businesses have also launched many cultural and historical tours, from short trips within the city to long trips connecting to neighbouring provinces. Many programs are tailored for specific groups such as students, the elderly and international visitors.

Thematic tours associated with the museum system, architectural heritage, and the night tour programme at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum are also renewed, contributing to increasing the attractiveness of tourism in the city during the holidays.

In addition to Ho Chi Minh City, localities with tourism advantages have also prepared to welcome a large number of visitors during the holidays. In the coastal city of Da Nang, 3-5 star hotels recorded room occupancy rates of up to 90%, many places were almost fully booked.

Nguyen Duc Quynh, vice chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, said the city currently has nearly 1,300 accommodation establishments with more than 46,000 rooms, capable of serving a large number of visitors, even when coastal hotels are fully booked.

It is forecast that the number of visitors to Da Nang during the upcoming holidays will increase by about 15% compared to the same period in 2024. On average, more than 50 international flights will land in the city every day, contributing to pushing the room capacity to the maximum level. On this basis, Da Nang expects the capacity to reach 100% during the holidays.