Travel Plans for the Upcoming 2-9 Holiday: A Sizzling Hot Topic

On August 20, statistics from the Agoda digital travel platform showed a surge in interest from domestic tourists in Hanoi, with a 370% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Searches for Hanoi by international tourists also rose by 84%.

A surge in flight schedules

The spike in interest from both domestic and international travelers highlights Hanoi’s appeal, not only for its parades and performances but also for the opportunity to immerse oneself in the 80th National Day anniversary celebrations on September 2.

According to reports from Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, several airlines, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines, are offering flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi during the 2-9 holiday period. Current ticket prices range from 4 to 4.3 million VND per round trip per passenger, depending on the departure time.

To meet the increased travel demand, airlines have collectively added more flights during the holiday season. Vietnam Airlines plans to significantly increase flights during the peak period from August 29 to September 3, providing nearly 600,000 seats across its network, equivalent to nearly 2,900 flights, a rise of over 100,000 seats compared to the previous year.

On domestic routes, the carrier focuses on boosting frequencies between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Cam Ranh, Dalat, and Hue. The total number of domestic seats offered by the airline reaches nearly 418,000, corresponding to over 2,100 flights, a 30% increase from last year.

The international routes with the most additional flights are between Vietnam and India, China, Thailand, and Australia. The total number of international seats is nearly 177,000, equivalent to more than 760 flights, an 18% increase from the previous year.

“Currently, key domestic tourism routes record an almost 60% load factor and are expected to continue rising rapidly. Increasing seat supply during the National Day peak is a considerable effort by the national carrier amidst the aviation industry’s challenges due to the global engine recall. The airline has proactively leased additional aircraft to enhance transportation capacity and meet passenger demand,” said a Vietnam Airlines representative.

Vietjet has also added 10,000 seats, equivalent to nearly 50 flights, during the four-day holiday period from August 30 to September 2. This increase aims to cater to the large movement of people heading to Hanoi for the grand celebration and to accommodate travel and leisure needs during the holiday. The additional flights are deployed on various routes connecting major economic and tourist centers such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Hue.

In anticipation of the expected surge in airport traffic during the National Day holiday, Vietjet has proactively bolstered its resources and personnel to facilitate swift check-in procedures for passengers. The airline recommends that passengers save time by checking in online via the Vietjet Air or VNeID apps before their flight to ensure a smooth and safe holiday journey.

Reputable bus companies are fully booked

Even though the 2-9 holiday is still ten days away, many transport companies started taking reservations at the beginning of August. For example, the Phuong Trang bus company began accepting bookings early, and on the first day of reservations, many passengers complained about their inability to secure tickets.

Ms. Nguyen Cam Le, a regular customer of Phuong Trang, shared that she quickly accessed the Futa app to purchase two round-trip tickets for herself and her mother to travel back to their hometown. Their planned trip was for August 28 to September 3. However, she struggled for almost an hour without successfully booking the tickets.

“After a few days, when the company deployed additional buses, my mother and I finally managed to secure our tickets home. Compared to other companies, Phuong Trang’s prices have only increased by about 20%, and their buses are of good quality, so I feel assured,” Ms. Le said.

Similarly, at the Mien Dong Coach Station in Ho Chi Minh City, passengers queuing at the Phuong Trang ticket counter to purchase tickets to central provinces were informed to return later or wait for additional buses. For instance, Mr. Pham Tan Phu, a native of Quang Ngai, had to wait an entire week to buy tickets for his trip home during the 2-9 holiday. However, due to the unavailability of tickets on the peak dates of August 28 and 29, he had to postpone his trip home by two days.

Plans to deploy additional buses

Regarding holiday travel services, a representative from the Mien Dong Coach Station shared that the number of passengers during this year’s holiday is expected to increase by 27% compared to the previous year. The peak days will be August 29 and 30, with an estimated 14,500 passengers per day, double the usual number. The majority of passengers will be traveling on short routes from Danang to Ho Chi Minh City.

Regarding ticket prices, most companies will apply a surcharge of no more than 40% to compensate for empty seats on the return trips on August 29 and 30. “Currently, some routes to the central region, such as those served by Phuong Trang, are sold out. However, this company will deploy additional buses to accommodate passengers. Other bus companies operating on central routes are also planning to increase their fleet to meet the travel demand. Passengers can rest assured that they will find tickets at the station,” the representative from Mien Dong Coach Station assured.

Similarly, at the Mien Tay Coach Station, routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Rach Gia, Ha Tien, and Chau Doc are in high demand. Mr. Tran Nhan Hau, Head of the Operation Department at Mien Tay Coach Station, shared that as of now, the total number of pre-booked and sold tickets during the holiday period is approximately 35,000 out of 230,000 (about 15% of the total). “There has been no report of ‘sold-out’ situations from bus companies, and reputable companies still plan to increase their fleet to accommodate any sudden surge in passengers,” Mr. Hau informed.