Visitors dressed in red flags with yellow stars granted free entry to Suoi Tien on April 30. (Photo: ST)

The department reported that hotels in the city centre nearly reached full occupancy. From April 27 to May 1, hotel occupancy rates for 1 to 5-star accommodations in the central area reached between 95% and 100%, with many 4- and 5-star hotels fully booked. Hotels in neighbouring districts also recorded occupancy rates of over 80%.

Beyond accommodation services, hotels and restaurants took the initiative to host numerous meaningful and ceremonial activities, such as flying the national flag, putting up banners celebrating the national reunification day, displaying promotional visuals, and sharing messages of historical gratitude across online platforms.

Several hotels set up spaces for handwritten guest books, allowing visitors to pen down their reflections, creating a serene environment for personal expression and emotional sharing.

In addition to symbolic activities like flag and banner displays or showcasing OCOP (One Commune One Product) items, many hotels collaborated with local artisans to host cultural experiences on-site. These included to he traditional toy making, calligraphy writing, and performances of traditional musical instruments.

Some hotels also offered free documentary film screenings about the liberation of the South, shown in the evenings from April 28 to May 1. Photo zones with backgrounds such as the Independence Palace, Ben Nha Rong, or the iconic Tank 390 were also popular, widely shared on social media by guests.

Meanwhile, inner-city tours and historical journeys experienced a surge in popularity during this year’s holiday period. The number of travellers choosing to depart later (May 1 to 2) has risen, according to tour operators. The main trend was to stay in the city and participate in local tours, heritage journeys, and historical site visits to mark the 50th anniversary of national reunification.

BestPrice reported that air ticket bookings to Ho Chi Minh City between April 29 and May 4 tripled, while bookings for inner-city tours doubled compared to 2024.

Tourist attractions across the city also saw a significant increase in visitor numbers during the April 30 –May 1 period. Many venues launched attractive promotions to welcome guests and join the nationwide celebrations marking 50 years of national reunification.