Lunar New Year Train Tickets Selling Slowly
The Prime Minister has approved the Ministry of Home Affairs’ proposal for a 9-day Lunar New Year 2026 holiday, from February 14, 2026 (December 27, Year of the Wood Dragon) to February 22, 2026 (January 6, Year of the Fire Snake). This includes 5 days of official holiday as per the Labor Code and 4 weekend days, creating a seamless long break ideal for travel, family reunions, and spring outings.
According to Vietnam Railways (VNR), the 2026 Lunar New Year transport plan runs from February 3 to March 8, 2026 (December 16, Year of the Wood Dragon to January 20, Year of the Fire Snake). The railway sector plans to operate 55 trains with over 800 carriages, providing approximately 330,000 seats during peak days.
Vietnam Railways offers around 330,000 seats for passengers during the 2026 Lunar New Year peak. Photo: VNR.
Lunar New Year 2026 train tickets went on sale from September 20, with 66% booked online, reflecting the growing trend of digital ticket purchases. After a month, over 64,000 tickets have been sold. However, sales are slower compared to last year, possibly due to changing passenger behavior or competition from airlines and buses.
Tickets remain available for February 3-9, 2026 (before December 23) and February 14-16, 2026 (December 27-29). Peak days from February 10-14, 2026 (December 23-27) have only about 2,500 seats left, mainly on routes like Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City – Vinh.
According to a survey, PV, ticket prices for the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route during peak days range from VND 2.5-2.7 million for soft seats and VND 3.5-3.6 million for 4-berth sleeper compartments. VNR offers 5-15% discounts for early bookings (10+ days in advance), especially for long routes over 900km, odd-numbered days before Tet, and even-numbered days after Tet.
Airlines Offer Over 6 Million Seats
The domestic aviation market has seen a surge in Lunar New Year 2026 flight bookings. Peak travel dates are from February 2 to March 3, 2026 (December 15 to January 15). High demand is noted for routes like Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City – Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City – Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Hai Phong, Quy Nhon, Cam Ranh, Phu Quoc, as well as international flights to Japan, South Korea, Thailand, and Singapore.
Currently, round-trip economy class tickets for Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi during peak days range from VND 7-7.5 million, up VND 400,000-700,000 from last year.
Round-trip economy class tickets for Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi during peak days range from VND 7-7.5 million. Screenshot.
On February 22, 2026 (January 6), return tickets from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City also exceed VND 3.7 million. For Hanoi – Nha Trang on January 2, economy class tickets range from VND 3.1-3.8 million, while business class costs over VND 7 million. Hanoi – Phu Quoc on the same day offers special economy fares at nearly VND 4.5 million and business class at VND 7.5 million; Sun PhuQuoc Airways provides cheaper options at VND 2.8-3 million.
Airlines attribute high prices to supply-demand dynamics during Tet. The imbalance between outbound and return passengers makes price adjustments challenging, as pre-Tet flights from South to North are fully booked, while post-Tet flights are less occupied.
For the 2026 Tet season, Vietnam Airlines Group (Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, VASCO) has released over 3.5 million seats from February 3 to March 2, 2026, a nearly 20% increase from last year. Vietjet offers 2.5 million tickets starting from VND 610,000 (excluding taxes and fees) for short domestic routes.
Alongside train and flight tickets, the Tet tour market is also bustling. Travel agencies offer 2-6 day Tet 2026 packages, with prices (excluding airfare) such as: Da Lat 3-day tours from VND 2.8-3 million; Phu Quoc 3-day tours from VND 3.2-3.4 million; and premium 4-5 day tours ranging from VND 7-10 million.
Travel agencies note a growing shift from “homecoming” to “Tet travel,” especially among young and young families. Photo: Loc Lien.
Additionally, Mekong Delta tours (Can Tho – Ca Mau) by bus are more affordable at around VND 3.6 million per person. Travel agencies observe a clear trend of shifting from “homecoming” to “Tet travel,” particularly among young individuals and families seeking extended holiday experiences.
Travel agents advise those planning to travel during the 2026 Lunar New Year to book train and flight tickets early, as prices rise closer to Tet. Avoid “peak booking days” (December 26-29 and January 4-6) to save costs. For budget travelers, consider trains or bus tours instead of flights. Also, check ticket change/cancellation policies, as many providers charge 20-30% fees for peak-day changes.
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