Canceled travel tickets, gave up vacation to go to Ho Chi Minh City to watch the parade

Nghi Phuong (second from right) and her family travel to Ninh Binh, February 2025. Photo: Provided by the character — Nghi Phuong (second right) and her family travel to Ninh Binh, February 2025

Nghi Phuong, 26 years old, in Hanoi lost 40 million VND when she canceled her tour to Thailand to fly to Ho Chi Minh City to watch the parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification.

The trip abroad was the first time Phuong's whole family had traveled together. Deciding to cancel close to the date, Phuong accepted that the cost would not be refunded. "My whole family agreed to be together in Ho Chi Minh City on April 30," the Hanoi girl said. "Being able to immerse myself in the April 30 atmosphere at the Independence Palace has a greater meaning than a normal trip."

She believes that money can be earned again and overseas travel can be saved for another time, but the 50th anniversary of national reunification only happens once and cannot be missed.

Phuong's family had prepared red flags with yellow stars, ao dai, scarves, and conical hats. They spent extra money on hotel reservations and last-minute air tickets, costing 6-7 million VND per person, to go to Ho Chi Minh City.

Tran Bao Han, 24 years old, from Nghe An, working in Ho Chi Minh City, also postponed returning home, giving up two round-trip plane tickets worth 5 million VND.

Han said the atmosphere of the city with flags and flowers on every street, military parades, fireworks... kept her here. She felt the heat of an event the whole country was looking forward to, an opportunity to experience a heroic atmosphere that she had never known before. "The joyful atmosphere of unification, people from the provinces flocked to the city, I chose to stay in the city," Han shared.

This is also the wish of Han's whole family. Her parents and younger brother changed their travel plans to Ha Long (Quang Ninh) to go to Ho Chi Minh City with their daughter.

Mr. Quoc Chung (Han's father) decided to let the whole family live in this memorable moment. "50 years before the country was reunified, I was too young to understand the joy of victory or to preserve the moments of the day of peace," he said.

This trend is reflected in data from travel agencies. A reporter's survey shows that the demand for travel to Ho Chi Minh City has increased sharply during the holidays. Mr. Tran The Dung, General Director of Vietluxtour Travel Company, said that the number of customers booking combo services has increased sharply since the beginning of April, up about 50% compared to last year.

At the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2025 in early April, businesses recorded 40% of customers interested in cultural - historical products, with departures scheduled in April - May and on holidays. The programs that are booked by many tourists are the Saigon Special Forces tour, District 1 night tour, and the "Old Saigon to Modern Ho Chi Minh City" discovery tour.

"Free and easy tours including hotel and airfare services are still of top interest to tourists, showing that the trend of independent travel is becoming more and more popular among tourists," said Mr. Dung.

Vietravel Deputy General Director Phan Huynh Phuong Hoang also said that tourism products related to the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and tours in Ho Chi Minh City are the focus. Half-day and one-day inner-city products have seen a sudden increase in bookings since the first week of April. Some outstanding programs include city tours - dinner on the Saigon River; one-day inner-city tours, cruises to Thieng Lieng Island, and free walking tours.

"Staycation products for guests living in Ho Chi Minh City, staying at central hotels are also of interest during the holidays," said Ms. Hoang.

Associate Professor Dr. Le Quy Duc, former Deputy Director of the Institute of Culture and Development, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, explained that the April 30 event has a great significance, the common joy of the nation after many years of fighting for independence. The fact that people across the country turn to Ho Chi Minh City on this occasion demonstrates that spirit.

Mr. Duc said that this is also an opportunity for generations born after 1975 to feel the historical atmosphere that their fathers and grandfathers experienced. In particular, the more developed economic and transportation conditions than before have created favorable conditions for people across the country and overseas Vietnamese to come to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the anniversary, not only because of the long holiday but also because of the sacred meaning of the event.

"For those who experienced the war, this is an opportunity to relive the heroic atmosphere and recall memories. Many veterans wish to attend this important 50th anniversary ceremony, considering it a meaningful milestone at the end of their lives," said Mr. Duc.

Hoang Linh, 29 years old, in Ho Chi Minh City, has just canceled a trip to Sapa that she had planned with a group of friends, accepting the additional fee to change her flight back to Hai Phong earlier. She brought her grandfather to Ho Chi Minh City to attend the ceremony, fulfilling his wish. Her grandfather did not participate in the resistance war but always spoke of April 30 with pride and gratitude.

She knew that changing plans so close to the date might upset and cause her friends to blame her, but for Linh, celebrating the important anniversary with her grandfather and the whole country had a greater meaning.

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