HCM CITY — Many Vietnamese tourists have booked tours since early March for the upcoming Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day and April 30 holidays, as a prolonged nine-day break triggers an early surge in travel demand.

The 2026 Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day will offer a three-day break from April 25 to 27. This is followed by a four-day holiday for Reunification Day and International Labour Day from April 30 to May 3.

Many employees have chosen to take two additional days of leave to have a total holiday of nine days, equivalent to the recent Tết holidays. 

Hồ Xuân Phúc, director of Hanotours travel company, noted that advance bookings for preferential prices are much more pronounced than in previous years.

Tràng An Travel reported a 40 per cent year-on-year increase in inquiries for the Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day and April 30 holidays. 

Other agencies, including Vietluxtour and BestPrice Travel, also noted that demand for late April tours emerged early, immediately following the Lunar New Year holiday.

Travelers who follow the official holiday schedule prefer short-haul Asian tours to destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Taiwan (China), overland tours of mainland China, or opt for domestic flight and hotel packages.

For those who requested extended leave to prolong their holidays, tours to China, South Korea, and Japan are attracting significantly more interest. 

Bùi Thanh Tú, marketing director of BestPrice Travel, noted that 60-70 per cent of the agency’s international tours departing during the Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day and April 30 holidays have already fully booked.

At Hanotours, tours to South Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China), and popular Chinese destinations such as Beijing-Shanghai and Shanghai-Wuzhen are nearly 100 per cent full. 

Long-haul tours to Russia, the US and Australia via direct flights departing on April 24-25 were fully booked well in advance.

In the domestic market, coastal destinations are particularly attractive as the early summer season begins. 

Package deals including flights and hotels to Phú Quốc, Nha Trang (Khánh Hòa), Đà Nẵng, Quy Nhơn (Gia Lai), and Phú Yên (Đắk Lắk) are being booked early. 

Consequently, airfares and hotel prices have surged. Many travelers now find it difficult to secure preferred flights or suitable accommodation.

In particular, Phú Quốc travel combos for the Hùng Kings’ Commemoration Day and April 30 holidays are significantly cheaper compared to previous years, helping ease the financial burden for tourists. 

Previously, high airfares posed a significant barrier for domestic tourists travelling to Phú Quốc in peak summer and holiday seasons. — VNS