Tourism in Vietnam booms during Tet holiday.

During the Lunar New Year holiday of the Year of the Horse, Vietnam's tourism industry set records in both quality and quantity, with many provinces and cities recording a surge in visitors and double-digit growth in tourism revenue.

Tourists visiting Da Lat - Photo: MV

Many tourism experts expect 2026 to be a pivotal year for Vietnamese tourism, shifting from quantity to quality, becoming more distinctive, greener, and more sustainable.

Da Lat upgrades its infrastructure, generating 2,000 billion VND in revenue during Tet holiday.

During the Lunar New Year of the Horse (Bính Ngọ) , Da Lat welcomed nearly 1 million visitors, generating an estimated revenue of around 2,000 billion VND by the 6th day of the new year – the highest level in the past 6 years. Notably, the mountain town avoided the widespread traffic jams and chaotic accommodation and food service disruptions seen in previous peak seasons.

From the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), many tourist attractions in Da Lat were packed with people. Traffic sometimes slowed down, and parking lots were sometimes full, but there was no widespread gridlock. In terms of services, most accommodations, restaurants, and eateries operated more orderly, with fewer instances of customers scrambling for seats or staff being overwhelmed due to lack of preparation.

According to traffic police in Da Lat, the number of tourists has increased sharply this year, but the city center has completed a series of renovation projects, resulting in smoother roads and a significant reduction in traffic bottlenecks. In addition to officers stationed at checkpoints, patrol teams are also more numerous on many routes to remind and handle cases of lane encroachment, cutting in line, and aggressive driving – familiar causes of traffic congestion in the city center.

Tourists also clearly feel the change. Minh, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said: "This year there are many cars, but it feels less stressful, especially in the city center. There are sections where the traffic moves very slowly, but it still gets through, not being stuck in traffic for hours like before."

Ms. Khuc Thi Thoi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province, emphasized: "Da Lat is accustomed to welcoming a large number of tourists in a short period after many major holidays. The ability to 'welcome tourists year-round' thanks to tour and regional linkages also helps businesses maintain operations, stabilize staff, standardize processes, and thus ensures that service quality fluctuates less during peak seasons."

Tourists prioritizing relaxation helped Nha Trang achieve great success.

Speaking to Tuổi Trẻ newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Phi Hong Nguyen - Vice Chairman of the Travel Association, Khanh Hoa Tourism Association - said that this year the number of tourists visiting Nha Trang in the period leading up to Tet has increased significantly. Tourists tend to choose short trips, focusing on relaxation and cultural and ecological sightseeing to unwind after a stressful year.

Mr. Nguyen noted that the trend of traveling before Tet (Lunar New Year) is becoming increasingly popular; not only does it redistribute the flow of tourists, but this trend also helps businesses extend the peak season, increase room occupancy and service revenue even before New Year's Eve.

Furthermore, the proactive development of tourism products suitable for the year-end season by tourism businesses, along with favorable weather and stable service infrastructure, has made Nha Trang an attractive choice. "From the 6th onwards, corporate and agency groups will be more actively departing for spring trips. This is a stream of tourists that brings stable revenue to coastal and island routes and entertainment services," Mr. Nguyen commented.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper, a manager of a large hotel and condotel chain in Nha Trang commented that Nha Trang's success during this year's Tet holiday was due to the completed highway from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang, making it easy for many families to drive their own cars to Nha Trang for tourism.

In addition, long-standing popular destinations in Khanh Hoa such as Vinpearl , Hoa Lan Island, Yang Bay Tourist Park, Kenh Ha Lake, etc., have revamped many of their products, which also helps attract tourists.

Tourists attending the Huong Pagoda festival (Hanoi) on the morning of February 22nd - Photo: NGUYEN HAI

For sustainable tourism development

In Hanoi, during the Lunar New Year holiday of the Year of the Horse, approximately 1.3 million visitors were recorded, a 36.3% increase compared to the same period in 2025, with an estimated 217,000 international visitors. Tourism revenue reached over 4,870 billion VND, a 40.2% increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Leading the list of localities with a surge in tourist numbers during Tet (Lunar New Year), Ninh Binh province welcomed over 1.8 million visitors (as of the 4th day of Tet). Notably, the average occupancy rate reached 85-90%, with many hotels and accommodations achieving 100% occupancy. Tourism contributed approximately 2,400 billion VND to the local budget. According to Mr. Bui Van Manh, Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, this is an impressive growth rate, clearly reflecting the attractiveness of the destination right from the beginning of the new year.

Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, representative of Vietluxtour, said that middle and high-end European tourists are increasingly wanting to "connect" with Vietnamese culture through lifestyle, cuisine, sightseeing, and photography. Ms. Thu noted that the positive figures during the recent Tet holiday are a very encouraging sign, but for a truly explosive and strong upward trend, this growth momentum needs to be translated into quality experiences and sustainable spending levels.

In 2026, Vietnam's tourism sector has the potential for strong growth, but a sustainable "boom" will depend on the entire industry consistently prioritizing quality, safety, authentic experiences, and destination governance. Many experts believe it is necessary to continue increasing differentiation, establish mechanisms to encourage businesses to launch unique tourism products and services, invest in promotion, and ensure a "green trend" for sustainable tourism development.

According to Nguyen Lam Nguyen, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with the thorough preparation of the Government regarding visa policies, and the decisive involvement of ministries, localities and businesses in promoting and renewing tourism products, 2026 will certainly be a promising year for tourism success.

Vung Tau has a new landmark, and the number of tourists is increasing.

According to statistics from the People's Committee of Vung Tau Ward (Ho Chi Minh City), the number of visitors to the area for Tet this year increased dramatically. In just 5 days of Tet (from the 1st to the 5th day of the first lunar month), Vung Tau Ward welcomed approximately 190,000 tourists who came to enjoy the beach.

The surge in visitors has caused traffic congestion on some roads in Vung Tau during peak hours, and many high-end hotels and resorts are fully booked. The reason for this increase is believed to be the opening of new iconic landmarks such as the Tam Thang Tower, the Whale Statue, and Bai Sau Park, which attract a large number of young tourists for photo opportunities and recreation.

In addition, numerous cultural, artistic, and recreational activities organized throughout the year also contribute to attracting tourists to Vung Tau, thereby creating expectations for a bountiful tourism season in this coastal city.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/du-lich-viet-bung-no-dip-tet-20260222222745538.htm#content-1