According to a recent survey, round-trip ticket prices for the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route during peak days before and after Tet are currently fluctuating between 7 to 7.5 million VND per passenger, applicable to economy class and average flight times.
Specifically, for the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi flight on February 14, 2026 (27th of the Lunar December), there are still many flights with available seats, but prices show no signs of cooling compared to when they were first released over a month ago.
Vietjet Air currently offers the lowest price at around 3.1 million VND per leg, while other flights on the same day are commonly priced near 3.7 million VND per leg.
Airlines such as Bamboo Airways, Vietnam Airlines, and Vietravel Airlines also have peak prices exceeding 3.83 million VND per leg. The “newcomer” Sun PhuQuoc Airways operates three flights, all priced above 3.8 million VND per leg.
Compared to the same period last year, prices have increased by 400,000 to 700,000 VND and remain high relative to the average affordability of many passengers.
On the return route, Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City on February 22, 2026 (6th of the Lunar January), Vietnam Airlines tickets also surpass 3.7 million VND per leg, indicating that price pressure remains concentrated on the two largest travel directions during Tet.
Similarly, the Hanoi – Nha Trang route on the 2nd day of Tet has very few flights with available seats. Vietjet offers three flights at a “uniform price” of over 3.1 million VND per leg; Vietnam Airlines has four flights with economy class tickets priced above 3.8 million VND per leg and business class tickets exceeding 7.3 million VND per leg.
Skyrocketing Tet airfare. (Photo: Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam)
For the Hanoi – Phu Quoc route on Abay’s online ticket platform, on February 18, 2026 (2nd day of the Lunar New Year), Vietnam Airlines has only one flight at 7 AM with available seats, offering only premium economy tickets at nearly 4.5 million VND per leg and business class tickets exceeding 7.5 million VND per leg.
Two Pacific Airlines flights at 12:30 PM on the same day have sold out all economy class tickets, leaving only flexible economy and business class tickets priced the same as Vietnam Airlines’ flights. Vietjet has four flights with the lowest price above 3.1 million VND per leg for evening flights. For midday flights, prices soar to over 4.4 million VND per leg.
This year, the Hanoi – Phu Quoc route features the addition of Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Tet 2026 tickets from Sun PhuQuoc Airways are already on sale, with two flights on February 18 at 7:45 AM and 1:30 PM, priced more affordably than other airlines, ranging from 2.8 to over 3 million VND per leg.
High Demand, Stubborn Prices
According to airline representatives, high Tet airfares are a result of specific supply and demand dynamics, not only due to increased passenger numbers but also the “head imbalance,” meaning the disparity between outbound and return travel demand.
Before Tet, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the North and Central regions are usually fully booked, while return flights have many empty seats. After Tet, the situation reverses as the number of people returning to Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces surges. This makes price balancing challenging, especially for high-frequency trunk routes.
A Vietnam Airlines representative stated that Tet 2026 ticket sales are showing positive signs, with a notable increase in early bookings compared to previous years. Many passengers are proactively planning their trips, purchasing tickets early to secure suitable flights, times, and prices, rather than waiting until just before Tet as per tradition.
This trend indicates a positive shift in Vietnamese air travel consumption behavior, moving toward more proactive trip planning, cost optimization, and enhanced travel experiences during peak seasons.
Vietnam Airlines reports that pre-Tet travel demand is primarily concentrated on routes from the South to the North and Central regions.
Additionally, Vietnam Airlines notes a stronger Tet holiday travel trend this year compared to previous years. Many families and young groups are taking advantage of the extended 9-day holiday approved by the Government for Tet Binh Ngo 2026 to embark on spring trips, exploring domestic destinations like Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Quy Nhon, Hue, or vacationing abroad.
Vietnam Airlines Group (including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and VASCO) has announced the early release of over 3.5 million Tet 2026 tickets from February 3 to March 2, 2026 (16th of the Lunar December to 13th of the Lunar January).
The supply has increased by nearly 20% compared to the same period last year. Since September 3, passengers have been able to purchase Tet 2026 tickets.
Vietjet Air has also launched early sales of 2.5 million tickets for the period from February 3 to March 2, 2026, covering from the 16th of the Lunar December to the 13th of the Lunar January.
Prices from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc start at just 610,000 VND (excluding taxes and fees). Routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot, and others start at 1 million VND (excluding taxes and fees).
“Tickets for routes to Hanoi, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong, and others start at 1,610,000 VND (excluding taxes and fees). In the opposite direction, prices start at 0 VND (excluding taxes and fees), catering to the spring travel and exploration needs of passengers during the Lunar New Year,” said a Vietjet Air representative.
Despite ample supply, the habit of waiting and comparing prices remains common among many Vietnamese passengers before each Tet season. However, experts recommend early booking as the safest option, especially for journeys involving children or requiring fixed flight times.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong, an aviation expert, noted that Tet ticket prices are typically 30-40% higher than regular fares and remain within the regulated ceiling. This is due to one direction being fully booked while the return direction often has empty seats. Airlines must increase prices on one leg to offset the costs of the empty return leg.
“To ensure consumer confidence, airlines should also transparently disclose booking numbers to avoid situations where tickets are scarce initially but become cheaper closer to Tet, causing frustration for early bookers and reducing airline revenue,” said expert Nguyen Thien Tong.
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