Asia-Pacific destinations popular for National Day holiday

Sun World Ba Na Hill tourist area in the central city of Da Nang. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi – Asia-Pacific destinations are the top choices for Vietnamese tourists in the coming National Day holiday which marks the last long holiday in the domestic tourism season this year.

The booking platform Booking.com has released a list of 10 domestic and 10 international destinations most favoured by Vietnamese tourists during the four-day holiday. The data is based on searches, bookings, and check-ins from August 31 to September 3.

Varun Grover, Country Director for Vietnam at Booking.com, noted that the September 2 holiday is an opportunity for families to enjoy memorable time together before the new school year begins.

This year’s travel trends show that Vietnamese tourists are looking for vacations that combine various experiences, from cultural exploration to relaxation at mountain resorts or sunny beaches.

Given the four-day holiday is not long enough for distant travel, Bangkok (Thailand) is the most selected city, followed by Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (the Republic of Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore, Hong Kong (China), Taipei (Taiwan - China), Sydney (Australia), Bali (Indonesia), and Chiang Mai (Thailand).

These destinations are all vibrant cities with diverse experiences, rich cuisine, and convenient shopping opportunities.

Besides, China is also a popular destination because of competitive tour prices when compared with those of other international destinations and even domestic ones.

A representative of a tour operator based in Hanoi’s Dong Da district that specialises in Asian tours said that it saw an increase in the number of Vietnamese tourists traveling to China on September 2 compared to last year.

Due to high domestic airfares and service fees during the holiday, many tourists tend to choose tours to China by air or land.

Many tourists completed the booking as early as mid-July to enjoy promotional programmes.

Meanwhile, Da Lat tops the list of domestic destinations, favoured for its beautiful landscapes, cool weather, romantic and peaceful atmosphere, and delicious cuisine. Da Lat has maintained its position as the most visited destination by Vietnamese tourists during the National Day holiday for five consecutive years.

Other destinations in the top 10 include Da Nang, Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Hanoi, Sa Pa, and Hue.

Phan Thiet makes its debut in the rankings, partly due to the operation of the Dau Giay - Phan Thiet expressway, which has made travel more convenient and reduced travel time.

Data shows that many resorts and hotels in Hue, Mui Ne, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Tuy Hoa, and Da Lat recorded high room occupancy rates during the upcoming holiday.

Amidst a sharp increase in tourist number during the National Day holiday, the inspectorate agency under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued an official dispatch on strengthening the inspection and examination of tourism activities.

Accordingly, it is recommended that people and tourists be vigilant against scams that can affected their rights and safety.

Specifically, tourists need to carefully research information about travel packages, especially those with unusual cheap prices, choose service providers with sufficient legal documents. They are recommended to verify information in the tourism contracts such as confirmation of room reservation, service quality, tour programmes, and tour guide.

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