Short tours are becoming popular during long holidays.

Domestic tour prices during the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the April 30th - May 1st holidays this year have generally increased by 20-30%, and in some cases even more, due to significantly higher input costs.

Many destinations are fully booked.

Speaking to Thanh Nien newspaper on the afternoon of April 15th, Mr. Nguyen Duc Hiep, General Director of Viettourist, said that it is currently peak season for beach holidays, so destinations such as Con Dao, Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet… are chosen by many tourists, especially families and civil servants with short vacation times. 3-day/2-night or 4-day/3-night programs have become popular choices.

In the central region, heritage destinations such as Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, and the Quang Tri route with Phong Nha-Ke Bang caves maintain their stable appeal. Meanwhile, the northern market has seen a surge in service demand, especially in destinations like Hanoi , Ha Long, Sa Pa, Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang. Many hotels and transportation options were fully booked since the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, causing room and service prices to increase sharply.

Short-day tours are becoming increasingly popular this season.

PHOTO: LE NAM

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh, General Director of Vietnam Tourism Media Joint Stock Company, the market is currently clearly differentiated by region. The North stands out with Sa Pa, Ha Long, and Ninh Binh; the Central region with Da Nang and Quy Nhon; and the South sees good demand in provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City, the Mekong Delta, and Phu Quoc. However, a common point is that tourists are prioritizing short trips of 2-4 days instead of longer trips as before. "The inability to swap vacation dates to 9 consecutive days does not significantly affect tourism demand, because the current trend is to choose flexible tours with short durations that fit the actual vacation budget. Flexible combo packages such as flight tickets combined with hotels are also in high demand," Ms. Anh said.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hiep analyzed that, for the domestic market, long-duration tours are no longer suitable in the context of rising costs. Conversely, a segment of customers tends to "avoid holidays," traveling early before the holiday to take advantage of lower prices and avoid overcrowding. Older people, retirees, or workers who can proactively take time off early are the main targets of this trend.

Despite adjustments to the holiday schedule, particularly the newly announced policy of not swapping the 9 public holidays, and the fact that most travel plans had already been developed by individuals and businesses, tour companies report that the cancellation rate is not high. Government agencies, businesses, and organizations also tend to plan their holidays early, keeping demand stable.

However, regarding the outbound market, Mr. Nguyen Huu Nghi, a marketing specialist at Tugo Company, said that the fragmentation of holidays has had a certain impact on longer tours. Nevertheless, this year the company has observed a difference: high-value tours such as those to Europe and Japan are finishing earlier than expected, despite their high prices and long durations. "European tours of about 10 days, priced from 80 million VND; and Japan tours of about 6 days, priced from 47 million VND, are still selling well. This is a different development compared to previous years," Mr. Nghi stated.

Tour companies often offer extra gifts and promotional vouchers to customers.

PHOTO: LE NAM

Businesses launch incentives to stimulate demand.

According to travel agencies, tour prices during this year's holiday season have increased due to two main factors: high demand for travel during the summer and rising input costs, especially fuel prices. Specifically, airfares have increased; hotel and resort prices have increased by an average of 10-30%, and during holidays, this increase can reach 20-30%. When all cost components increase simultaneously, the price of package tours also increases, commonly by 10-20%, and even higher on some routes.

Representatives from Vietnam Tourism shared that, despite the general market price increase, the company proactively worked with suppliers to maintain competitive prices. However, customer sentiment remains cautious, with many carefully considering their options before finalizing a tour. For international tours, some markets are affected by geopolitical factors and airfare costs. European tours have seen a decrease in occupancy rates compared to before, with some routes reaching only around 50%. Tours to Japan have also been somewhat impacted. Conversely, nearby markets such as China, Thailand, and South Korea maintain stable purchasing power.

Meanwhile, some domestic products continue to see strong demand. Tours to the Mekong Delta are offered at significantly reduced prices, starting from just 300,000 VND for short programs. A 3-day, 2-night tour to Da Lat costs just over 2 million VND; and 5-6 day tours to the North departing from Ho Chi Minh City are priced around 5-6 million VND.

Domestic tour prices increased by 20-30% during the April 30th - May 1st holiday this year.

PHOTO: LE NAM

A representative from Tugo stated that they are proactively working with land tour partners and airlines to share costs and maintain stable prices for customers who have already booked tours. "We are committed to not increasing prices for customers who have already paid a deposit, even if input costs fluctuate," the representative said. To stimulate demand, many businesses are implementing discount programs of around 10%, offering travel gifts, or providing incentives for large groups. Some companies are not offering direct discounts but are increasing the value of services, such as giving vouchers for future trips, in order to maintain profit margins and retain customers.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Hiep stated that the cost of domestic tours during this year's holiday season has increased by approximately 20-30%. A 5-day Hanoi tour, normally costing around 9-9.6 million VND, can reach 14-15 million VND during the holiday. Similarly, a Phu Quoc tour, which normally costs around 6 million VND, is being sold for 8 million VND during the holiday. Therefore, while many customers inquire, they hesitate when quoted prices. Currently, about 30% of domestic tours remain unsold. However, this remains a potential customer group, and bookings could be finalized closer to the date if appropriate policies are in place. Nevertheless, compared to last year, purchasing power this year shows signs of slowing down due to the sharp price increase.

"The solution for the 30% of unsold domestic tours is to offer promotional programs and incentives to stimulate demand, such as giving away tour packages worth 1-2 million VND for future trips instead of direct price reductions. In addition, there will be preferential policies for large groups of customers; those who register during this period will receive gifts on the tour, creating value to encourage repeat business. Businesses can use recurring tours to share profits through promotional programs for customers," Mr. Hiep said.

According to experts, with input costs showing no signs of decreasing, pressure to increase tour prices may continue throughout the summer. Therefore, travel businesses must not only maintain prices but also optimize products, enhance experiences, and flexibly adjust policies to stimulate demand.

No swapping for a 9-day holiday.

The Ministry of Interior affirmed that there is no plan to adjust the holiday schedule, nor is there any proposal to swap working days to extend the Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the April 30th - May 1st holidays to 9 days. The holiday schedule follows the Labor Code: Hung Kings Commemoration Day is a 1-day holiday, the April 30th - May 1st holidays are 2 days off, and April 28th and 29th are normal working days.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nghi-dai-tour-ngan-len-ngoi-185260415173917514.htm