In the lead up to the April 30 – May 1 holiday period, the Vietnamese tourism market has witnessed significant fluctuations with domestic flights continuing to soar without any signs of abating. Surprisingly, several international airlines have released limited-time offers with fares that are extremely attractive, possibly even cheaper than domestic flights. Such promotional fares have taken Vietnamese travelers by surprise, as they were initially unaware of the opportunity to travel abroad during the holiday season at such a reasonable cost.
During the holiday season, Vietnamese tourists are flocking to international destinations. Photo: Ho Lien
Domestic flight prices skyrocket during the holiday season, while international fares drop unexpectedly.
The upcoming April 30 – May 1 holiday promises an extended break for locals, leading many to plan family vacations. However, domestic flight prices have been on an upward trend in the lead up to the holiday period, causing travelers to reconsider their plans for trips that require air travel.
The number of flights to popular tourist destinations in Vietnam during peak season has increased significantly compared to previous periods. Looking at departures from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to popular destinations such as Phu Quoc; Da Lat; Hue; Da Nang; Con Dao; Nha Trang, the round-trip airfare from April 28 to May 1, 2024, ranges from VND 4 to 8 million, including taxes and fees, with some peak-time flights exceeding VND 10 million. Additionally, a few business class seats can cost between VND 17 and 20 million for a round-trip ticket. These are unthinkable prices for domestic air travel.
Even one-way fares for domestic flights are quite high.
And here are the round-trip fares for popular domestic destinations, such as the route from Hanoi to Da Lat or Phu Quoc.
International flights to neighboring Southeast Asian countries are currently the cheapest.
Dismayed by the ever-rising domestic airfares, many travelers have turned to international flights, and surprisingly, several airlines have quietly lowered their prices, offering attractive promotions to entice Vietnamese tourists to travel abroad. For example, popular destinations among Vietnamese tourists in recent years, such as Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Bangkok (Thailand), now have fares as low as VND 2.3 to 4 million for a round-trip ticket. These prices are quite reasonable for travelers looking to experience and explore the local cuisines.
Fares for flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) and Bangkok (Thailand) are around VND 2.3 to 3.2 million for a round trip.
Fares from Ho Chi Minh City to Chiang Mai (Thailand) are around VND 4 million for a round trip, while flights to Bali are around VND 2.3 million.
Flights to Japan are now under VND 8 million for a round trip.
In the past, travelers would have expected to pay around VND 10 million for a round-trip ticket to Japan, but now it is possible to purchase a round-trip ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Tokyo for around VND 7.8 million from Vietjet without the hassle of waiting for a sale. Japan is currently in its Golden Week holiday period, so a number of travelers are taking the opportunity to visit and enjoy the cherry blossoms.
