With reduced airfares, flights to Con Dao are experiencing a surge in demand during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Photo caption — Con Dao Island attracts tourists with its many historical and cultural sites.

Competitive fares, busy routes return.

In the final weeks of the year, the demand for flights to Con Dao on online platforms has surged. According to many passengers, they have to "keep an eye out for tickets" early, but finding a suitable price is not easy.

Mr. Tran Quoc Bao (Saigon Ward) said that his group of friends had planned a trip to Con Dao during the New Year holiday but had to postpone it because of the high airfare. “Last month, I booked almost a month in advance, and the tickets were still over 3 million VND one-way, not including fees. Recently, prices have been more affordable, and there are more options. If the supply continues to increase, traveling to the island will be much more convenient. Con Dao is very attractive, but the high airfare has long been a major obstacle, causing many people to change their plans,” Mr. Quoc Bao shared.

According to tourism experts, Con Dao is always among the most sought-after destinations during the end of the year. Its pristine nature, clear blue beaches, tranquil atmosphere, and unique historical value create a rare appeal. This is also the time when the weather is favorable, leading to a significant increase in visitors coming to visit historical sites, pay respects at the tomb of Vo Thi Sau, and participate in outdoor recreational activities.

However, for many years, traveling to Con Dao has never been easy. Ticket prices are often high while flight frequencies are limited, making this route considered "expensive," especially during peak seasons and holidays. Many passengers have to choose a roundabout route, flying to Ho Chi Minh City and then connecting by high-speed ferry to save costs, but the extended travel time diminishes the overall travel experience.

Amidst surging demand, several airlines have begun resuming flights to Con Dao. Notably, Vietjet resumed ticket sales from the beginning of December, creating a positive signal for the year-end aviation market. Initially, the airline operated one round-trip flight per day from Hanoi and one round-trip flight from Ho Chi Minh City. From December 15th, the frequency was doubled to two round-trip flights per day at both ends – a significant increase compared to previous years. Ticket prices range from 490,000 VND to 1 million VND per one-way trip (excluding taxes and fees), considered the most competitive in a long time.

Previously, airfares to Con Dao were very high. Vietjet's Hanoi - Con Dao route at one point reached 8.8 million VND/round trip in economy class and nearly 10 million VND in business class. The Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao route also frequently cost around 3.4 million VND in economy class and 6.6 million VND in business class.

The market is considered the "home turf" of VASCO - a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines that has operated with ATR-72 aircraft for many years. However, due to being the only airline operating, tickets are often scarce during peak season, with round-trip economy class tickets from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao ranging from 3.2 to 3.5 million VND, while flexible economy class tickets can reach up to 5.6 million VND.

Bamboo Airways previously offered an additional option by operating the Embraer E190 on the Hanoi - Con Dao route, shortening travel time compared to the ATR-72. However, the airline ceased operations in April 2024, further shrinking the supply of seats on this already popular route.

In this context, Vietjet's return not only helps restore the route but also creates a significant competitive boost. Experts believe that the addition of more airlines will bring prices down to a more reasonable level and increase stable supply. Tourism experts argue that the diversity of choices will directly benefit passengers and promote the sustainable development of air services to Con Dao, instead of relying on one or two operators as before.

Demand for travel has increased sharply.

According to a reporter from the News and Ethnic Minorities Newspaper, many people expressed excitement about the positive changes on flights to Con Dao. Ms. Mai Huong, a resident of Ben Thanh ward who frequently travels to Con Dao for work, said that there were times when she needed to go to the island urgently to handle business but couldn't buy tickets due to high prices or scarcity. "Sometimes the ticket price doubled compared to normal days, and the cheaper tickets were completely sold out. If the airlines maintain stable flight schedules, people working here will face much less pressure," Ms. Huong shared.

Nguyen Minh Quan (Hanoi) said that his family had to postpone their trip many times because they couldn't find reasonably priced tickets. "Con Dao is beautiful and peaceful, but the airfare is too high. Hearing that airlines are resuming flights and increasing frequency, I hope the prices will stabilize so that more people have the opportunity to go to the island for a vacation," Quan said.

According to statistics from travel companies, from the beginning of December to the New Year, beach and island tourism enters its peak season at the end of the year, with Con Dao being one of the destinations with the strongest growth rate. Online platforms for booking flights, hotels, and tours have recorded a doubling of searches related to Con Dao compared to the previous month, reflecting the high demand from tourists wanting to enjoy a holiday during the best weather of the year.

Mr. Le Quang Tuong, a representative of a travel company in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the demand for tourism to Con Dao is increasing significantly. In just two weeks of opening sales for Tet holiday flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Con Dao, his company has received more than 200 bookings for tickets and accommodation for groups and families.

“Customers tend to book early because they worry about rising ticket prices as Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches. When flights are resumed and frequency increases, the number of bookings for the New Year and Lunar New Year holidays immediately surges, especially among young travelers who prefer short trips. If the supply of seats remains stable, Con Dao could absolutely experience a boom in the year-end tourist season,” Mr. Tuong predicted.

Travel and aviation experts believe that airfares can only decrease sustainably when supply is continuously replenished, rather than being reduced only during promotional periods. Mr. Ngo Van Long, an aviation expert, believes that the return of many airlines to operations and increased flight frequencies has helped the market become more "open" than before, creating conditions for gradually stabilizing airfares. However, during peak periods such as the anniversary of Lady Phi Yen's death, Christmas, or New Year's Day, airfares may still increase due to a surge in demand. "Competition can bring prices down to a reasonable level, but it's very difficult to significantly reduce them during peak seasons," Mr. Long said.

Alongside the flight route, travel companies are also noting a positive trend. Many tours to Con Dao are expected to be more popular from mid-December thanks to more accessible airfares. Mr. Phan Dinh Hue, General Director of Vong Tron Viet Company, said that customers are currently prioritizing all-inclusive tours to optimize costs and have more control over their itineraries. “The demand for experiencing the islands and participating in festivals is increasing sharply. If flight frequency remains stable, tour development will be easier, but the quality of accommodation and services in Con Dao must also meet the demand,” Mr. Hue commented.

Given the bustling market, the People's Committee of Con Dao Special Economic Zone has requested VASCO and Vietjet to increase flights and consider offering discounted fares to serve the 240th anniversary of the death of Lady Phi Yen. This is the largest traditional festival of the year, expected to attract a large number of locals and tourists, and is hoped to further stimulate local tourism.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/gia-ve-may-bay-giam-duong-bay-con-dao-but-toc-dip-le-tet-20251202093115106.htm