Airline and train tickets for the holiday are selling like hotcakes.

With just over a week left until the April 30th - May 1st holiday, train, bus, and plane tickets are in high demand, with surveys showing that many popular routes are already sold out and prices have increased sharply.

Airfare during holidays is equivalent to that of Tet (Lunar New Year) tickets.

Having secured plane tickets for her whole family to return to Da Nang to visit relatives during the upcoming holidays, Ms. Quynh Xuan (residing in Nhieu Loc Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) breathed a sigh of relief: "I almost couldn't get tickets at all." Two weeks ago, after receiving the "green light" from her boss to take two consecutive holidays – Hung Vuong Ancestor Commemoration Day and April 30th - May 1st – Ms. Xuan planned to take her family back to her hometown for an extended stay. Checking airline tickets, she was quite surprised to find that Vietnam Airlines ' prices for all flights had risen to nearly 2.5 million VND/one-way in economy class, comparable to peak prices during the Lunar New Year.

At that time, most flights on April 23-25 ​​still had enough seats in all price ranges. Only on April 27-29 were economy class tickets sold out on many routes. However, because her husband didn't know if he would have time off for the entire holiday, Ms. Xuan hadn't finalized her return to Da Nang yet. Since then, every few days she reads news about skyrocketing airfare prices and many routes being fully booked, making Ms. Xuan anxious and worried.

Passengers at Saigon Station. Demand for rail travel during the April 30th - May 1st holiday this year is high amidst expensive airfares.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

"Yesterday, my husband told me the schedule, and I immediately checked the airline's website. Sure enough, a whole series of flights were completely sold out in economy class, with only premium economy tickets left at nearly 3.6 million VND/one-way. It's not just during peak days leading up to the holiday; tickets from April 24th to 25th were already selling like hotcakes. My family took the evening flight on April 25th, and economy class tickets cost 2.5 million VND per person. If that was the case going there, the chances were even lower. For the afternoon flight from Da Nang back to Ho Chi Minh City on May 2nd, all the flights at convenient times were sold out in economy and premium economy classes, with only business class tickets left at nearly 4.8 million VND. It was terrifying! Luckily, my husband and children could stay longer until after the holiday, so only I flew in, taking an early flight with economy class tickets at 2.5 million VND," said Ms. Quynh Xuan.

Data from the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority's survey of airfares on several routes also shows that airfares during the April 30th - May 1st holiday this year are comparable to those recorded during the Lunar New Year. During the initial holiday period (April 25th - 29th), economy class fares on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route are currently listed by airlines at approximately 3.6 - 4.2 million VND, depending on the airline.

Specifically, Bamboo Airways and Vietnam Airlines listed the highest ticket prices at around 3.9 - 4.2 million VND, while Vietjet Air offered slightly lower prices, ranging from 3.2 - 3.9 million VND, and Vietravel Airlines recorded prices of around 3.3 - 3.8 million VND.

Passengers no longer have many opportunities to buy economy class air tickets to popular tourist destinations.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

The above prices are equivalent to those recorded during the Lunar New Year and represent a slight increase (8-10%) compared to the same period in 2025.

For the Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang route, outbound airfares on April 29th are currently high, ranging from approximately 2.7 to 3.2 million VND when flying with Vietnam Airlines. Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways offer cheaper fares, between 1.8 and 2.6 million VND. The Hanoi - Da Nang route sees fares ranging from approximately 2.6 to 3.8 million VND with Vietnam Airlines, while other airlines range from 2.1 to 2.9 million VND.

On the Hanoi - Da Nang route on April 30th, all Vietjet Air flights at convenient times were completely sold out, with only late afternoon to nighttime flights remaining at the cheapest price of around 2.3 million VND/ticket; on the return flight from Da Nang to Hanoi, tickets were also sold out, with only a few higher-priced tickets at around 4.8 million VND/ticket remaining for the morning of May 3rd.

The hottest flight route this holiday season remains Phu Quoc. From Hanoi to the island, passengers choosing Vietnam Airlines will have to spend around 4.8 million VND/one-way, while Vietjet Air ranges from 3 to 4.6 million VND. On the busiest day, April 30th, economy class tickets on direct Hanoi-Phu Quoc flights were sold out, leaving only connecting flights from Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Quoc at very high prices, with average economy class tickets costing 5 million VND/ticket. On the return trip on May 3rd, Vietnam Airlines no longer had direct flights available, requiring connecting flights from Phu Quoc - Ho Chi Minh City - Hanoi, but all economy class seats were sold out, leaving only premium economy class tickets at the cheapest price of 5.5 million VND/ticket.

Conversely, on the return journeys from tourist destinations to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, ticket prices increased sharply during the final days of the holiday.

Rail travel is becoming increasingly popular, helping to shoulder the burden of carrying a large number of passengers during peak seasons, much like air travel does.

Photo: Le Hoai Nhan

Railways are gaining popularity with "mobile hotels".

In contrast to the last-minute rush to book airline tickets, rail travel this year has seen relatively stable demand, with many routes already fully booked thanks to the trend of slow-paced, experiential travel.

To date, the railway industry has sold over 68,000 tickets from April 29th to May 3rd. The busiest period was the evening of April 29th and the morning of April 30th, when people took advantage of the last working day to travel. On the evening of April 29th, tickets were still available on short routes like Quy Nhon and Nha Trang, but not many, while the number of empty seats on long-distance routes was also very limited. The Saigon - Phan Thiet route on April 30th was almost completely booked.

To meet demand, Vietnam Railways Corporation has increased the number of trains on the southern and northern routes. Train ticket prices have been adjusted upwards by approximately 10-15% due to the impact of fuel prices since March. Specifically, on the Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh route on train SE8, a 4-person sleeper compartment costs around 2.3 million VND, while a high-quality soft seat costs nearly 1.3 million VND. Shorter routes such as Saigon - Nha Trang on train SNT2 have sleeper compartments priced at around 1.26 million VND. On the Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang route, most compartments are already fully booked, with only a few 4-person sleeper compartments remaining at 1.75 million VND/one way and 6-person compartments at 1.37 million VND/one way.

Taking advantage of the hesitation many families have due to the high cost of airfare, the railway industry is striving to transform trains into true "mobile hotels" with 5-star service to attract tourists. No longer are the trains outdated; passengers can now enjoy their vacation from the moment they board. For example, the SE21/SE22 train (Saigon - Da Nang) has been comprehensively upgraded, with completely new interiors in a modern and luxurious style. The train also features VIP compartments with 3 beds, specially designed for families or groups of friends who want absolute privacy.

Meanwhile, the SE19/SE20 train (Hanoi - Da Nang) continues to hold the title of "mobile hotel" in the northern region. With its classic Indochine-inspired design, the train is extremely attractive to international tourists and young people who like to take photos for social media. The HD1/2/3/4 train, "connecting Central Vietnam Heritage Sites" (Hue - Da Nang), is also considered a key tourism product for 2026. Instead of just being a means of transportation, this train is a genuine tour with carriages showcasing regional culture and cuisine right on board.

The most attractive feature this year is the "reverse" discount: 15% off for senior citizens, 10% off for students, and especially a 10% discount on return tickets for passengers buying round-trip tickets. Hoang Nam, a photographer from Ho Chi Minh City, said he chose to travel to Da Nang by train instead of plane because he "craved" the feeling of admiring the Hai Van Pass: With a sleeper ticket costing around 1.8 million VND, he saved almost half the cost compared to flying, and also had private space to read and enjoy the journey at a "slower" pace.

"Of course, there are trips or family groups where other means of transportation can't replace airplanes, but actually, for long holidays and when you can arrange time to travel, traveling by train is great. Trains are cheaper and offer more experiences and emotions than airplanes. The only downside is that train tickets aren't readily available; you can't just buy them whenever you want. Most people who decide to travel by train plan early, so tickets sell out quickly. If you buy close to the date, you might only find seats left," Nam shared.

Road travel is undergoing a transformation with the North-South Expressway.

Not only railways, but also roads are taking full advantage of the North-South expressway network to undergo a transformation. This year's April 30th - May 1st holiday is expected to see increased travel demand at many major transportation hubs in Ho Chi Minh City. Information from bus stations in Ho Chi Minh City indicates that passenger numbers are projected to increase compared to last year, mainly concentrated on the peak days of April 29th and 30th.

According to general regulations, bus stations allow transport companies to adjust ticket prices to compensate for the cost of empty return trips, but these adjustments must be publicly displayed. Most bus companies apply increases of 20-40% compared to normal days. This usually takes place during the three peak days from April 29th to May 1st. The price adjustments mainly affect routes from Da Nang southward to the southern and western provinces.

Surveys at several major bus companies show that many popular routes have quickly become fully booked. For example, Thanh Buoi bus company is still focusing heavily on the Da Lat and Can Tho routes. Sleeper bus tickets to Da Lat are currently priced at around 380,000 VND (including holiday surcharges), with few seats available on peak days. Buses from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho on April 29th are already fully booked. Meanwhile, staff at the Kumho Samco bus company counter confirmed that tickets for routes to the Central Highlands are very scarce on April 29th. Some popular routes, such as Ho Chi Minh City - Dak Lak, have already started to experience ticket shortages on April 24th and 29th, with prices ranging from 450,000 to 470,000 VND per sleeper ticket.

Short routes from central Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau, Da Lat, or Phan Thiet remain popular. Notably, 2026 sees a boom in private cabin limousine services (often referred to as "ground-based private jets"). Priced at just 400,000-600,000 VND, these vehicles offer passengers absolute privacy, entertainment screens, and individual charging ports – features not found in traditional buses.

Ms. Thu Thuy (Dong Nai) shared her experience: "Instead of crowding at the bus station, my family chose to book a 9-seater limousine to pick us up from home to go to Da Lat. Although the total cost is about 20% higher than a regular sleeper bus, the convenience and safety for the elderly and children during the busy holiday season is absolutely worth it." "This year, some bus companies are even using AI and professional booking apps, helping passengers avoid long queues for paper tickets. In general, there are many more travel options now than before. If you don't buy plane or train tickets for long distances, traveling by car is just as enjoyable. The only drawback is that if you want to charter a whole vehicle, you have to book early or there won't be any left," Ms. Thuy added.

According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction, during the April 30th - May 1st holiday this year, the average number of passengers passing through interprovincial bus stations is projected to reach approximately 90,000 per day, a 6% increase compared to the same period last year. Of this, the former Ho Chi Minh City area accounts for the majority with about 79,000 passengers per day; the former Ba Ria-Vung Tau area shows negligible increase, while the number of passengers from the former Binh Duong area is projected to decrease by 10%. The highest increase in passenger volume during this year's holiday will be in air travel, with Tan Son Nhat Airport expected to receive approximately 130,000 passengers per day, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year; and Con Dao Airport approximately 3,200 passengers per day, a 36% increase. Authorities are also developing service plans and increasing the frequency of bus routes connecting to the airports. Coordinate with relevant forces to regulate and guide traffic flow flexibly for taxis and ride-hailing vehicles picking up and dropping off passengers, in order to alleviate passenger congestion according to the actual situation at the airport.

The Ministry of Public Security warns of numerous scams during the tourist season.

The Ministry of Public Security has just issued a notice: Taking advantage of the increased demand for airline tickets, travel packages, tourist destinations, hotels, and resorts during the April 30th - May 1st holiday, Hung Vuong Ancestor Commemoration Day (March 10th of the lunar calendar), and the 2026 summer vacation, fraudsters are continuing to intensify their activities by impersonating travel agencies, tourist destinations, and resorts, posting information about accepting tour and hotel bookings to defraud people of their money.

Common methods and tactics include: hiring services to obtain Facebook verification badges or purchasing existing verified Facebook accounts, renaming them to reputable tourist areas, hotels, resorts, or travel agencies to run advertisements and post information about booking flights and hotel rooms; presenting attractive tour packages, claiming ample ticket and room availability at prices similar to legitimate establishments to avoid suspicion from the public. Many fake Facebook pages even post all the official information of the real establishment. Then, they request people to transfer money in advance as a deposit, provide fake booking codes, and demand that victims pay the full amount upfront.

The Ministry of Public Security warns citizens to carefully check the information of social media accounts selling or advertising travel packages, hotel rooms, resorts, etc. Information should be verified from multiple sources: Facebook, TikTok, official websites of businesses and accommodation establishments, etc.; check the transparency of social media accounts. After making a deposit, double-check the booking code. Contact the official phone numbers of airlines, accommodation establishments, resorts, etc., to verify your code and check the credibility of the booking agent before paying the full amount.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ve-may-bay-tau-xe-le-nong-ham-hap-185260419213039468.htm