Published on August 14, 2025
Thailand and China are emerging arsenic amazingly cheaper options for holidaymakers this year, pinch circuit packages to some countries costing little than home flights wrong Vietnam during nan upcoming September Second National Day break. As airfare prices soar to grounds levels—especially for routes to Hanoi, wherever hotels adjacent premier parade-viewing spots are already adjacent to full—many different destinations crossed Vietnam are seeing only humble room bookings. Popular formation cities for illustration Da Nang, Phu Quoc, and Vung Tau stay astatine debased occupancy levels, signaling uneven tourism request nationwide contempt nan agelong holiday.
As nan four-day National Day vacation from August 30 to September 2 draws near, Vietnam’s recreation marketplace is revealing a mixed picture. While immoderate destinations are bracing for a surge successful visitors, others are seeing only humble request contempt nan agelong break. This year’s standout is undoubtedly Hanoi, which is expected to invited a activity of travelers eager to witnesser nan expansive parade celebrating nan 80th day of National Day. Yet successful contrast, galore well-known tourer spots stay astatine debased occupancy levels—some averaging only 30%—even arsenic airfares climb steeply crossed nan country.
Hanoi Dominates Holiday Interest
Hanoi is being hailed by recreation agencies arsenic nan number 1 destination for nan upcoming holiday, acknowledgment to its domiciled arsenic nan halfway of nan day festivities. The item will beryllium nan September 2 parade, attracting thousands of home tourists. This heightened request has driven airfares to caller highs. The cheapest round-trip summons from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi for recreation betwixt August 30 and September 3 is astir 5 cardinal VND, though these flights often person inconvenient departure aliases presence times. Passengers seeking much favorable schedules must salary betwixt 5.6 and 6.5 cardinal VND—two to 3 times higher than regular fares.
In nan past, galore hotels successful Hanoi’s downtown districts sat half-empty during nan September holiday. This year, however, nan business is drastically different. According to booking level Mustgo—which partners pinch complete 2,000 hotels nationwide—occupancy rates successful nan capital’s astir desirable locations, specified arsenic nan Old Quarter and nan area astir Ba Dinh Square, person already reached 85–90% for 4–5 prima hotels and astir 80% for 3-star options.
Northern Highlights: Sa Pa Strong, Quang Ninh Slow
Beyond nan capital, Sa Pa is emerging arsenic different beardown performer for nan vacation period. Three-star hotels are already seeing occupancy of astir 65% for August 31 to September 2, while nan 4-star conception is astir sold retired for August 30 and 31. Luxury 5-star properties are averaging 65% occupancy for nan four-day break, pinch request peaking during nan first 2 days.
By contrast, Quang Ninh province—home to Ha Long Bay—has yet to acquisition a awesome rush. Bookings successful nan aged metropolis halfway of Ha Long stay slow, though manufacture observers expect numbers to emergence sharply successful nan last week earlier nan vacation arsenic last-minute travelers make their plans.
Central Vietnam: Strong Early Demand successful Nghe An and Ha Tinh
In nan cardinal region, Nghe An and Ha Tinh are benefiting from their easy accessibility by backstage car, which makes them convenient for home travelers. In some provinces, high-end hotels successful nan 4–5 prima class person already reached 80% occupancy for August 30 to September 1. September 2 itself is seeing less bookings, arsenic galore visitors will beryllium heading home.
However, successful Da Nang and Hoi An—two of Vietnam’s astir iconic coastal destinations—the image is very different. Current occupancy is conscionable 20–30% crossed astir edifice categories. One cardinal facet holding backmost request is nan precocious costs of aerial travel. Round-trip fares from Hanoi to Da Nang are presently 3.8–4 cardinal VND, while those from Ho Chi Minh City are astir 3.4 cardinal VND—prices connected par pinch nan highest summertime season.
Southern Resorts: Hoping for a Last-Minute Surge
In nan south, celebrated getaways specified arsenic Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, and Da Lat person not yet recorded important booking increases. These destinations thin to pull visitors from Ho Chi Minh City who recreation by backstage car aliases bus, and galore of these travelers book astatine nan past minute. Industry experts judge Phan Thiet has nan strongest imaginable for a surge adjacent week, acknowledgment to its well-developed tourism accommodation and favorable upwind forecast.
Phu Quoc: Low Room Demand but Expensive Flights
Phu Quoc Island is experiencing peculiarly soft request for nan September holiday. Many hotels person moreover removed nan accustomed vacation surcharges to pull much guests. The 5-star conception successful some nan northbound and southbound of nan land is averaging conscionable 30% occupancy. Four-star hotels successful nan northbound and cardinal areas—such arsenic Seashells Phu Quoc Hotel & Spa—are faring amended astatine astir 60% for August 30 to September 1, while resorts and villas successful nan southbound are astatine astir 40%.
Air recreation to Phu Quoc, however, tells a different story. Despite nan subdued edifice bookings, formation prices are surging. Between August 29 and September 2, round-trip fares scope from 5.4 to 8 cardinal VND, depending connected nan hose and formation time. These rates are comparable to nan Lunar New Year and April 30 highest periods and, successful immoderate cases, moreover transcend nan costs of world recreation packages to destinations for illustration China aliases Thailand.
Last-Minute Bookings Could Shift nan Picture
Industry representatives be aware against drafting conclusions excessively early. In Vietnam, last-minute bookings are common, peculiarly for short home trips. Many travelers for illustration to hold for favorable upwind forecasts aliases promotional deals earlier making reservations. As a result, existent figures whitethorn not accurately bespeak nan last turnout for nan September holiday.
Thailand and China circuit packages are now cheaper than flying wrong Vietnam for nan September Second holiday, arsenic soaring airfares push Hanoi edifice occupancy adjacent afloat while galore different destinations look sluggish bookings.
What is clear, however, is that Hanoi is poised to return halfway shape this year, fueled by its domiciled successful hosting nan country’s astir important National Day celebrations successful decades. The operation of patriotic spirit, humanities significance, and awesome nationalist events is making nan superior nan spot to be—while different destinations, from Sa Pa’s misty hills to Phu Quoc’s tropical beaches, are relying connected a precocious activity of travelers to capable their rooms.