Terraced rice fields in Vietnam’s northern mountains are a popular attraction during the rice harvest season.
On August 16th, multiple travel companies reported that they are diligently preparing products, services, and tour packages to meet the upcoming travel demands for the four-day 2-9 holiday break.
According to Ms. Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Director of Marketing and Communications at Saigontourist Travel Company, their tour bookings for the 2-9 holiday have already reached 88% of their expected capacity.
Based on current booking trends, the hottest tours include a three-day trip to Phu Quoc Island, starting at VND 3.77 million, and a three-day tour of Central Vietnam, priced from VND 3.63 million (excluding airfare).
“During this holiday, destinations in the Northwest will be preparing for the rice harvest season, offering a unique opportunity for tourists to admire the breathtaking beauty of the terraced rice fields, peaceful and romantic landscapes. Mu Cang Chai, Sapa, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, and Moc Chau are among the most sought-after locations,” said Ms. Tra.
A serene garden in Japan, a popular overseas travel destination for Vietnamese tourists this autumn.
Notably, travel companies have observed that tour bookings have not surged dramatically, and travelers are opting for departures throughout the extended weekend, rather than concentrating their trips during the official holiday period.
Ms. Tran Phuong Linh, Director of Marketing and Information Technology at BenThanh Tourist, pointed out that the 2-9 holiday falls between the peak summer travel season and the upcoming autumn-winter travel period, resulting in a relatively modest market demand.
BenThanh Tourist is focusing on anticipated customer favorites, including tours to Northern Europe and Dubai, as well as a range of tours to Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia for overseas travel. For domestic tourism, they are highlighting destinations such as the North, Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Dalat, Phan Thiet, and Nha Trang.
“Currently, BenThanh Tourist has not witnessed any significant increase in tourist numbers for this year’s holiday season. Aside from the fully booked Northern Europe and Dubai tours, the Malaysia-Singapore combo tour has filled over 50% of its capacity, while other tours remain open for booking,” stated Ms. Phuong Linh.
The four-day 2-9 holiday is expected to boost domestic tourism, especially in popular destinations like Da Nang.
TSTtourist has also released a limited number of spots for the holiday, focusing on carefully curated domestic and international tours. Approximately 50% of these spots have already been reserved. The company predicts a notable increase in family travelers and private group tours starting from August 30th, for both domestic and overseas destinations.
“This can be considered the last holiday for families before the start of the new school year. However, due to the extended summer break this year, there doesn’t seem to be a significant surge in holiday travel demand or service strain. Some groups have booked tours for the autumn season, from September to November, with destinations abroad,” shared Mr. Nguyen Minh Man, Director of Communications and Marketing at TST Tourist.
Demand for overseas travel continues to outpace domestic trips during the holiday period and the subsequent autumn months. Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Viet Travel Company, revealed that their tour bookings for the holiday have reached nearly 60%, with international tours accounting for 70% of those reservations.
The four-day holiday is well-suited for a variety of international tours to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, China, South Korea, and Japan. Even five-day tours are feasible, thanks to overnight flights.
“What sets this holiday apart is the absence of a sudden surge in demand, but we are witnessing a strong interest in autumn tours after the holiday, both domestically and internationally,” remarked Mr. Vu. “There is also a growing trend of last-minute bookings for private group tours, possibly to avoid the holiday crowds and take advantage of more affordable off-peak rates.”
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