Travel agencies have reported an increasing number of tour bookings for the upcoming 3-day holiday for the forthcoming National Day, starting from September 2.  Beach trips have received the highest number of bookings.

Tourists at Da Nang's My Khe Beach

Beach resorts in Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Quy Nhon cities, as well as in Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands are popular amongst domestic and foreign tourists.

Mr Le Cong Nang from the Ha Noi-based Vietrantour said that 3-day sea tour packages for two people have sold well, including bookings to Da Nang-Hoi An, priced from 3.29 million VND (145 USD) per person; Quy Nhon-Hon Kho Island for 2.69 million VND (118 USD) per person; Ha Long Bay for 3.4 million VND (150 USD) per person; and Free & Easy tours to Phu Quoc Island for 5.65 million VND (250 USD) per person.

Tours to the Mekong Delta, including Can Tho-Chau Doc- Ha Tien and Can Tho-Bac Lieu-Soc Trang, and to Da Lat City in the Central Highlands are also popular.

The number of bookings at Vietrantour rose by 5-10% during the summer compared to the same period last year, especially Free & Easy tours and combo tours for two people.

Mr Nguyen Cong Hoan, Deputy Director of the Ha Noi Redtour, said sales of tours at his company grew 15% year-on-year this month and for the National Day holiday.

Sea tour packages are mostly chosen by groups of families, with destinations in the northwest favoured by younger people, according to Mr Hoan.

The Saigontourist Travel Service Company is offering a wide range of summer promotions with nearly 40 budget domestic tours for departures between May and September.

Cost-saving tours with destinations including Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa and Da Lat, and 5-day tours to the northwestern region and the 5-day Northwest Region-Ha Long Bay tour are being offered.

Two major bus stations in HCMC, Mien Tay (Western) Bus Station and Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station, railway stations and ferries will add more vehicles to meet the rising demand of commuters during the holiday.

Mr Kieu Nam Thanh, General Director of Eastern Bus Station, said around 40,300 passengers would take short-distance trips to Vung Tau, Da Lat, Phan Thiet and Nha Trang cities on 2 September.

The station plans to add 100 buses during the holiday, but bus fares will remain unchanged during the period.

Authorities at Western Bus Station said the number of commuters would rise 4-6% year-on-year to reach 54,000-56,000 passengers on 2 September.

Bus trips from HCMC to Can Tho and the provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre and ba Ria-Vung Tau will see a rising number of commuters.

A total of 30 buses will be added to serve rising demand during the holiday.

The Cat Lai Ferry Station announced that it would double the number of ferry trips to 280 during the holiday.

Mr Do Quang Van, Director of the Sai Gon Railways Transport JSC, said a total of 11 trains would be added during the holiday, including 5 trains for Sai Gon-Phan Thiet routes and 6 trains for Sai Gon-Nha Trang routes.

(Source: VNS/ DA NANG Today)