First day of the National Day holiday (September 2nd): Bustling tourism.

On the first day of the National Day holiday on September 2nd, popular tourist attractions across the country welcomed many visitors, with young people coming to have fun and take souvenir photos.

Tourists visit the Valley of Love in Da Lat City on August 31st. Photo: DOAN KIEN

Southeast Vietnam: Many activities to attract tourists.

On August 31st, the Management Board of Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area announced that throughout the four-day National Day holiday on September 2nd, the tourist area continuously organized art performances to serve visitors. One of the most impressive performances was the Chhay-dăm drum dance and the five-tone music performance by artisans from Tay Ninh.

These are national intangible cultural heritage sites that are regularly recreated on the summit of Ba Den Mountain. In addition, a grand lantern-offering ceremony celebrating National Day and praying for national peace and prosperity will be held, with thousands of twinkling lights illuminating the entire summit of Ba Den Mountain. According to the Management Board of the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area, on August 31st, an estimated 8,000 people visited the tourist area, an increase of more than 3,000 compared to a normal day.

Meanwhile, in Vung Tau City (Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), the Vung Tau City Tourist Management and Support Center reported that tourist areas in the city welcomed and served approximately 43,000 beachgoers on that day, an increase of 34.4% compared to the same period last year.

Observations in the Bai Sau area show that hotel room prices have increased 2-3 times compared to normal days, and many hotels are fully booked. Representatives from several tourist areas in the coastal region of Xuyen Moc district shared that the number of visitors during the holiday was concentrated on August 31st and September 1st because these were weekends, and many families took advantage of the opportunity to travel and return early to get back to work.

Central and Central Highlands regions: Many unexpected tourist attractions.

Mr. Pham Van Thang, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kon Plong district (Kon Tum province), said that the Mang Den eco-tourism area (Kon Plong district) is "straining" to serve tourists as the number of visitors is very high. Popular tourist attractions such as Mang Den market, temples, Pa Sy waterfall, and the 36-household area... Currently, hotel rooms are fully booked.

Many events were organized during this period, such as the inauguration of the Mang Den art garden; a culinary competition at the local market; and the final round of the gong-playing competition… In Da Lat City (Lam Dong province), on the first day of the holiday, tourist areas were busier than usual but did not experience overcrowding.

Similarly, traffic routes from downtown Da Lat to gateway areas such as Prenn Pass, Mimosa Pass, or further afield like Bao Loc Pass did not experience congestion. According to the Da Lat City Department of Culture and Information, 3-5 star hotels operated at 60%-70% capacity; other accommodations had occupancy rates of approximately 70%-75%, with the peak being on September 1st and 2nd.

In Nha Trang City ( Khanh Hoa province ), traffic started to increase on August 31st, with coastal roads, shopping centers, and entertainment venues frequently experiencing localized congestion. Tourist areas such as Long Son, Vinpearl, and Kong Forest also welcomed a larger number of tourist groups during the holiday. Notably, Korean and Chinese tourists accounted for a very high percentage.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial Department of Tourism, from August 30th to September 3rd, the number of tourists visiting Thua Thien Hue is projected to reach 120,000 (a 22.4% increase compared to last year's holiday period). The average occupancy rate of hotel rooms is approximately 64%. On August 31st and September 1st, the occupancy rate of many accommodation establishments exceeded 80%.

Tourists explore the ancient capital of Hue (Thua Thien Hue province) by cyclo. Photo: VAN THANG

Most hotels in Hue City, Phu Loc District, and A Luoi District are almost fully booked for these two days. This year, the trend is for tourists to travel in family groups by private car and train, seeking relaxation and experiences to explore local culture and nature.

Vietnam-China tourism is bustling in both directions.

From early morning on August 31st, the area around the Lao Cai International Border Gate Management Center was crowded with people completing exit procedures to travel to China. Major Bui Giang Nam, Deputy Head of the Lao Cai International Border Gate Border Guard Station, said that on the morning of August 31st, approximately 2,000 people had already crossed the border into China, with more than half being tourists on tours or groups organized by travel companies.

Meanwhile, at the gateway to Lang Son province, many Chinese tourists are entering Vietnam for sightseeing. Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Mai, Director of the Travel Center under Lang Son Tourism and Import-Export Joint Stock Company, said: “We have collaborated with many travel companies to organize day trips and 2-day, 1-night tours.” Popular tourist destinations include temples and pagodas such as Bac Le and Tam Thanh, Tan Thanh market, Dong Dang market, Ky Lua market… to the Lang Son geological plateau and Mau Son tourist area.

On September 2nd, the Hanoi Department of Tourism and the Management Board of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum will provide free drinking water, milk, and bread to the public and tourists visiting the site.

In addition, the Hanoi Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center and several functional units, will organize the "Ao Dai Connecting Tourism with Hanoi Heritage" program in 2024, taking place from 5:30 AM to 9:00 AM on September 1st at the Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center and several streets in Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, and Long Bien districts.

In the suburban area, at the Vietnam Ethnic Culture and Tourism Village (in Dong Mo, Son Tay), from August 31st to September 3rd, there will be a program celebrating Independence Day, including: a reenactment of a highland market fair called "Colors of the Highlands"; and an introduction and experience of "Bac Ninh's cultural and tourism space in the heart of Hanoi".

Bustling shopping at supermarkets.

On August 31st, observations at several supermarkets and shopping malls in Ho Chi Minh City showed a higher-than-usual number of visitors on the first day of the September 2nd holiday. At the stalls and food courts of Big C and GO! (District 10, Binh Tan District, etc.), MM Mega Market An Phu (Thu Duc City), AEON Mall (Tan Phu District), and Co.opmart Rach Mieu (Phu Nhuan District), there was a bustling crowd of shoppers and diners.

Fresh produce, vegetables, meat, and fish are popular choices among customers due to ongoing promotions offering good prices, with discounts ranging from 5% to 49% depending on the item. Staff regularly restock shelves to prevent shortages. Saigon Co.op is currently offering a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for orders over 400,000 VND and two-for-one (food, technology, clothing, etc.) for orders over 800,000 VND. Similarly, MM Mega Market is also offering a buy-one-get-one-free promotion on some items such as bird's nest drink, oatmeal, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, and shower gel.

THI HONG

REPORTER TEAM

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ngay-dau-nghi-le-quoc-khanh-2-9-nhon-nhip-du-lich-post756692.html