Ha Noi is expected to welcome a large number of tourists during the National Day holiday. (Photo: Thanh Dat)

According to travel agencies, as early as July—two months before the holiday—the National Day tourism market began to gain momentum. Domestic tour purchases have been rising daily, especially for Ha Noi, where a series of activities of strong historical and cultural significance are taking place, particularly the military parade commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day at Ba Dinh Square.

Statistics from the online travel website Booking.com show that Ha Noi is Vietnamese tourists’ top searched destination during this year’s National Day holiday, rising from seventh place in 2024 to number one.

Data from online travel website Agoda also indicates that accommodation searches for Ha Noi during the National Day holiday increased by more than 44-fold compared with 2024. Many accommodation establishments near event venues—around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, Ba Dinh Square—were fully booked well in advance.

Nguyen Van Tai, Director of Vietsense Travel, stated that domestic tourism is witnessing clear changes in destination choices. In previous years’ National Day holiday, Ha Noi and northern provinces were typically the places from which tourists departed, but this year they have become “magnets” attracting visitors from the southern and central regions.

Tours to the capital are drawing not only families and groups of friends, but also young couples and solo travellers. Notably, many destinations near Ha Noi such as Bac Ninh, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, and the Northwest are also benefiting from the capital city’s tourism boom, as visitors choose to combine these locations as part of their journey.

Tai reported that bookings for tours to Ha Noi and northern provinces during this period have increased two- to three-fold compared with the same period in previous years. Even tours departing in mid-September and early October have already been booked in advance. The “Heritage Journey” tour connecting Ha Noi, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Ha Long and Sa Pa is proving particularly popular among southern visitors.

Saigontourist has also recorded large numbers of southern visitors registering for northern tours, notably many overseas Vietnamese from Germany, Australia and other countries. The tour combining Ha Noi and Sa Pa is the most favoured choice thanks to its cool climate, beautiful scenery and unique cultural experiences.

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Travel, noted that while airfares to Ha Noi and accommodation costs in the capital city’s central area during the National Day holiday have increased significantly, Saigontourist continues selling tours combined with attending events in Ha Noi as it has already secured bookings and services in advance.

The travel agency also advised tourists wishing to visit Ha Noi during this period to register early and remain flexible regarding accommodation locations, possibly opting for hotels outside the centre to ensure availability.

Recognising that this year’s National Day holiday is the lever for Ha Noi tourism specifically, and northern tourism generally, to achieve strong growth, the capital’s tourism sector has proactively developed many new tourism products including same-day city tours, suburban tours, cultural and culinary exploration tours, and tours linking with northern destinations to diversify visitor experiences.

Another distinctive highlight is that from August 19, Ha Noi will begin operating night tourist trains, offering visitors an authentic sense of old Ha Noi’s atmosphere within the heart of a modern metropolis.

Notably, many tourist attractions within the capital such as the Ho Chi Minh Museum, National History Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Viet Nam Contemporary Art Theatre, and Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism will open free of charge during this period, with numerous vibrant activities enabling visitors to explore the country’s culture and history in depth.

Additionally, many tourism products have been specially designed by travel agencies for the National Day holiday to stimulate demand. For instance, Vietravel launched a package comprising six journeys linked to the military parade event.

Saigontourist Travel, in partnership with Viet Nam Airlines, developed a journey taking visitors to Ba Dinh Square to fully experience the sacred, proud atmosphere of the military parade, combined with exploring the beauty of northern landscapes at destinations including Ha Noi, Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Sa Pa and others.

Vietluxtour has also received positive feedback from visitors for historically themed products such as the “Following Uncle Ho’s Footsteps” tour connecting Ha Noi-Thai Nguyen-Tuyen Quang, and the “Remembering August Autumn” tour connecting Ha Noi-Tuyen Quang.

According to many tourism companies, alongside the strong growth in bookings for tours to watch commemorative activities in the capital, there is also a segment of visitors choosing coastal destinations such as Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, Phu Quoc for relaxation and leisure, or selecting regional tours exploring local tourism spaces following administrative mergers.

With these positive signals, tourism during the National Day holiday is expected to create momentum for Viet Nam’s tourism sector to achieve a breakthrough during the year-end peak season and realise its visitor growth targets.