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Rising cost pressures, particularly for airfares and accommodation, are prompting many families and groups to adjust travel plans toward shorter, nearby trips. A reporter’s survey on April 20 indicated that domestic airfares for the upcoming holiday have eased somewhat compared with early April, though they remain high relative to weekday prices.
For the Ho Chi Minh City–Hanoi round trip (April 28–May 3), fares ranged roughly 5.3–6.4 million dong depending on the airline. On the Ho Chi Minh City–Da Nang route and the Hanoi–Da Nang route, common decreases of about 200,000 dong were reported compared with the earlier peak booking period.
Despite the local downward trend, Viet Travel Company said airfares for the 30/4–1/5 holiday this year rose on average about 20% year-on-year versus the same period in 2025. The company attributed the increase mainly to international airlines adjusting fuel surcharges from March 2026, which lifted overall price levels.
In addition to airfares, hotel room rates and tours have also increased. At beach destinations including Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Vung Tau, room rates rose by 10–30%. In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, increases ranged from 20–30%.
Agoda data on domestic accommodation searches showed domestic tourism grew 81% for the late April long weekend extending into early May compared with the same period last year. Coastal destinations continued to lead the search demand, with four of the five most searched domestic destinations being coastal cities: Vung Tau, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Phan Thiet.
This year, travelers appear to favor destinations that are closer and easier to reach, such as Vung Tau and Phan Thiet. In Phu Quoc, the market remains active: the 3-star segment is leading with the quickest occupancy, and many central accommodations are nearly full. By contrast, the 4–5 star segment still has availability, with some hotels offering promotions and reduced surcharges to stimulate demand.
Domestic travelers continue to account for the largest share of demand, concentrated in the mid-range segment. International visitors remain stable but are mainly traveling in small groups, using 7–16 seat vehicles rather than large tour groups as in previous periods. On the island, travel-transport fleets are booked from April 27 through the holiday, rather than being concentrated on only a few peak days.
From Hanoi, Cat Ba island is emerging as a new “North star” for the 30/4–1/5 holiday. The highlight of the peak summer season is a beachfront area on Green Island in the city. Cat Ba will officially open the Green Creative Market and VUI-Fest on April 25, 2026, operating daily from 9:30 to 24:00. Hotel occupancy in Cat Ba is near the 100% mark.
In the coming week, interagency teams will conduct checks on the tourism business environment and publicize a hotline to support visitors. Cat Ba is forecast to attract 392,000 visitors, with the 30/4–1/5 period and the peak summer months expected to see strong traffic.
In Da Nang, many 4–5 star hotels on Vo Nguyen Giap Street reported no vacancies for the upcoming holiday. On Hoang Sa Street, a series of 3–4 star hotels are also “booked out,” and hotels around the An Thượng area are full. The city’s holiday highlight is the opening of the summer coastal tourism season from April 25 to May 3, featuring a nine-day program that includes a kite festival, live music, food experiences, beach sports, a water gun battle, a walking tour of Son Tra, and other activities.
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