Tourism is poised for a 'boom' during the April 30th holiday.

Although the April 30th and May 1st holidays are still more than a month away, tours for travelers from the South, with a focus on Ho Chi Minh City, are already very busy. Notably, this year's holiday, despite offering five consecutive days off, sees many people choosing domestic destinations instead of overseas locations...

Demand is gradually increasing.

According to Mr. Pham Van Viet (residing in Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City), his family decided to travel during the long April 30th holiday. “Initially, I planned to take my family to Thailand because the tour prices weren't too high. A 5-day, 4-night tour for a family of four would only cost 25 million VND. However, my wife chose to visit some central provinces instead, as it includes mountain climbing and beach activities. Besides, she was worried about security issues after a trip to Thailand,” Mr. Viet said, adding that he would drive himself from Ho Chi Minh City to Tuy Hoa and could also visit some nearby attractions. “In reality, traveling domestically by car is a bit more expensive than a package tour, but in return, you have more control and a more diverse experience,” Mr. Viet shared.

Tourists explore Ho Chi Minh City on a double-decker bus. Photo: SG

Recently, some fraudulent activities involving cross-border criminal groups have affected the confidence of many tourists wanting to travel to other countries. According to Mr. D.M.T., a tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City, the number of tourists booking tours to Thailand this year during the April 30th holiday has decreased significantly compared to last year. Meanwhile, tours to Cambodia have been temporarily suspended due to low numbers. Conversely, although there is still more than a month to go, the number of domestic tour bookings has increased by 30% compared to normal days. According to Mr. T., the number of tourists is expected to increase further in the coming days as the holiday approaches.

Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, Director of Marketing at Vietravel Tourism Company, commented that this year's April 30th and May 1st holiday, lasting 5 days and coinciding with the start of the vibrant summer season, will create favorable conditions for a surge in tourism demand. With the advantage of a long holiday period, Vietravel forecasts a positive increase in customer numbers compared to the same period last year, especially among family groups, group travelers, and those choosing all-inclusive tours. During this year's April 30th - May 1st holiday, Vietravel has observed significant interest from tourists in many attractive destinations, particularly beach and nature exploration tours.

Domestic travel is a popular choice for many tourists during the April 30th holiday.

Popular domestic destinations include Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Quy Nhon, offering high-end resorts and a wide range of recreational activities. In addition, nature and local culture enthusiasts are showing great interest in tours exploring the mountainous regions of Northwest and Northeast Vietnam, where majestic landscapes and unique cultural experiences converge.

To meet this trend, Vietravel has expanded and developed several new road tourism products, with the Nha Trang - Phu Yen route remaining a highlight, offering tourists a complete experience from stunning beaches to admiring famous landmarks. The tour program combines beach relaxation and exploring natural landscapes, with unique attractions such as Doc Let Tourist Area, with its clear blue sea and fine white sand; Mui Dien, the easternmost point on the mainland that welcomes the first sunrise in Vietnam; Nghinh Phong Tower, a new tourism symbol of Phu Yen with its modern and sophisticated beauty...

Anticipating and serving tourists.

Recognizing the growing demand for domestic travel destinations, many travel agencies and localities have anticipated this trend and launched attractive programs for tourists.

Specifically, Binh Dinh province has decided to offer free train tickets to over 1,100 passengers on tours to the province in early April to stimulate tourism. Accordingly, tourists traveling to Binh Dinh by train from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, or Da Nang will receive free tickets for certain tours. This move aims to encourage more tourists to choose Binh Dinh as their destination, even though the free tour program doesn't coincide with the April 30th holiday. It is predicted that in the coming days, many southern provinces and cities will also have their own programs to stimulate tourism after the specific holiday schedule is announced.

Domestic tours are in high demand.

Meanwhile, according to forecasts from several travel companies in the South, domestic tourism demand in destinations such as Nha Trang, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, Phan Thiet, etc., will continue to attract a large number of tourists due to their unique natural landscapes, dining and entertainment services, and convenient transportation.

According to Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Viet Travel Company, understanding passenger demand, the company has proactively developed products focusing on domestic tourism routes such as beach tours, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage tours to meet the diverse needs of customers. This includes focusing on famous destinations in the South such as Da Lat, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot, Ca Mau, Phan Thiet, etc., offering tourists more transportation options via express highways or trains, high-speed ferries from Vung Tau to Con Dao, Rach Gia to Phu Quoc, etc. “During this holiday season, domestic tourism will experience a strong surge and boom because it will be the main choice for many Vietnamese people due to its convenience and reasonable cost,” Mr. Vu predicted.

Ms. Tran Phuong Linh, Director of Marketing and Information Technology at BenThanh Tourist Company, also stated that the 5-day April 30th holiday had a positive impact on the market. Although the company has not yet recorded a surge in tourism demand during the holiday, customer inquiries are increasing daily. Tour bookings are filling up quite quickly. According to Ms. Linh, for the domestic tourism market, it is necessary to wait until April to accurately assess the level of customer demand, as February and March are the months when customers inquire about tours, while the end of March and beginning of April are the peak months for tour bookings. Regarding domestic destinations, tourists prioritize beautiful beaches such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, or cool highland areas like Da Lat and Sa Pa. Heritage sites such as Hue, Hoi An, and Ninh Binh also attract a large number of tourists who enjoy exploring culture.

To meet the needs of tourists during this holiday season, BenThanh Tourist Company has prepared a variety of products. Compared to normal days, tour prices during the holiday have increased by 10-20%, depending on the tour, due to the high cost of airfare, services, and hotels during the peak season. “Tourists are carefully considering their choices of destinations, and for tours of equivalent value, overseas tours will be more advantageous,” Ms. Linh said.

It can be said that, although there is still plenty of time, it is predicted that during the upcoming April 30th holiday, domestic tourism with destinations that are both familiar and new will offer exciting experiences for tourists. Even more importantly, the longer holiday compared to previous years is also predicted to create a surge in tourists to various localities.

Mr. Pham Anh Vu - Deputy General Director of Viet Travel Company:

Airfare prices have increased by 10-40%.

Airfares for major tourist routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to various destinations during this year's April 30th holiday have increased significantly compared to last year. Specifically, the price of tickets for the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route has increased by 30-40% compared to normal days, ranging from 4.5 million to 6.5 million VND per ticket depending on the day and airline. Tickets for routes such as Hanoi - Nha Trang and Hanoi - Quy Nhon have risen to 6-6.3 million VND per ticket, an increase of about 10-20% compared to the same period last year. The impact of increased airfares may reduce purchasing power and lead to a trend of more overseas travel experiences or choosing other modes of transportation such as buses and trains to save costs.

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Many festivals are held around April 30th.

As one of the most popular destinations, Ho Chi Minh City is expected to see a significant increase in visitors during the April 30th holiday this year. The city plans to organize a series of festivals, cultural events, and entertainment activities to cater to tourists from other provinces and cities, as well as international visitors.

Besides several annual festivals held during this period, such as the Cholon Food Festival, the River Festival, the International Ho Do Music Festival, and the Agricultural Products Festival, Ho Chi Minh City will organize fireworks displays at 7 locations to serve the needs of tourists and residents. In addition, the 3rd Orchid Festival, themed "The Colorful Train," will take place from April 29th to May 3rd at Tao Dan Park, offering residents and tourists the opportunity to admire over 500 orchid species. This festival aims to promote the city's high-tech agricultural products to the public and visitors.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/du-lich-cho-bung-no-dip-30-4-10301750.html