30/4–1/5 Holiday: Outbound Tours Remain in Strong Demand

During the Vietnam International Travel Fair - VITM Hanoi 2026, despite tensions in the Middle East, the international tour market for the 30/4 holiday this year remained dynamic. Many companies reported outbound tour bookings rising 10-15% year over year. With nearby markets prioritized, China is a bright spot this year thanks to abundant itineraries and reasonable prices. According to Ms. Nguyen Hoai Thu, Deputy Director of Saigontourist Travel, Hanoi branch, concerns about fuel prices did not affect tour and combo pricing, as travel companies have been working with airlines since late 2025 and planned products through the end of Q2. In the current period, airfares have risen about 30% compared to a year earlier, so bookings for tours and combos increased, aided by better pricing than self-organized tours. For international tours, markets like China, Japan and Korea posted positive signals, with bookings up 10-15% year over year from 2025. Destinations such as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore are also drawing Vietnamese travelers. Ms. Truong Thuy Chau, representative of Vietnam Tourism, said China tours remain the hottest, with prices from 12 million VND, popular in the 5 days 4 nights segment thanks to convenient group visas. High-end routes such as Beijing-Shanghai-Hangzhou (around 25 million VND) continue to attract, along with new products like Guilin, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang. In the four days of the fair, Vietravel’s booth recorded 1,800 registered visitors and revenues over 30 billion VND, with 45% domestic tours and 55% outbound tours. “This shows travelers aren’t just choosing destinations by fame, but also considering product suitability for the holiday. To date, the fill rate for the two holiday periods exceeds 70%,” Khanh said. Similarly, Hanotours’ CEO Ho Xuan Phuc said China tours are fully booked; traveler demand centers on Beijing-Shanghai, Lijiang-Kunming, Chongqing, with culturally rich experiences. Vietnamese travelers are showing more interest in self-designed “no shopping” tour products with longer experiences and deeper exploration. Nguyen Minh Man, Deputy General Director of VinaGroup Travel, noted that fuel costs not only push tour prices higher but also reshape the entire product structure, pricing, and operations of the tourism industry. Traditional tours are gradually replaced by flexible service products such as combos, free & easy, or tailor-made tours. Consumer behavior is shifting from “visiting many points” to “deep experiences,” prioritizing longer stays and meaningful experiences over constant movement. Vietnamese travelers are increasingly leaning toward self-designed “no shopping” tours, longer experiences, and exploration. Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing Director of Vietluxtour, acknowledged a notable rise in the popularity of travel combos for the 30/4 holiday, driven by personalization and rising transport costs. In four days at the fair, outbound markets remained a bright spot, with short Asian itineraries (Thailand, China, Korea, Taiwan, Singapore-Malaysia) constituting a large share of demand. “Our outbound tour revenue for short-haul trips at the fair rose 15% year over year,” Thu stated. Earlier at Ho Chi Minh City Travel Day 2026, BestPrice Travel attracted attention with products designed for pure experiences (No Shopping), wellness, and personalization, including programs such as Beijing – Shanghai – Hangzhou – Xitang or Fuji – Yokohama – Tokyo. Traveloka’s latest survey shows the Micro-Holiday trend rising nearly 40% as Vietnamese travelers plan for the 30/4–1/5 holiday this year, signaling a clear shift toward shorter itineraries, richer experiences, smarter planning, and prioritizing experience quality over travel distance. During the four days of the event, outbound markets remained the bright spot. The push toward shorter trips reflects not only simpler travel needs but a clearer understanding of what makes a trip meaningful. Leading destinations share a common trait: landscapes that inspire, strong local character, and experiences that provide real energy renewal beyond mere entertainment. Not only destinations, but how travelers plan trips has changed. Travelers plan earlier and prioritize truly meaningful experiences, from nearby resort stays to nature itineraries and flexible, demand-driven products. The market is shifting toward lean yet valuable options. In this context, short holidays are not a passing trend but an answer to the time, cost, and experience considerations of modern travel. Vietcombank has announced a partnership with cross-border payments platform Alipay+ to roll out global QR payment services for individual customers. Travelers can use the VCB Digibank app to pay in over 50 countries and territories, including popular travel markets such as China, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, as well as many European and American nations.