The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched a program called “Vietnamese people travel Vietnam” to stimulate domestic tourism in the post COVID-19 period.

The promotional program will run until the end of the year.

The “Vietnamese people travel Vietnam” program will promote tourist products and services through travel packages and preferential rates. 

Provincial authorities have reduced entry fees for tourist sites and encouraged  common carriers to slash fares and other transportation fees. Travel companies are being urged to develop discounted package tours. 

Dinh Ngoc Duc, Director of the Market Department of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, said, “The program “Vietnamese people travel Vietnam” gets localities, aviation companies, travel agencies, hotels and resorts to work together to create attractive high quality tourist products and services.”

Since early May, many travel companies have been offering promotional programs that include free airfares and 25% discounts on car rental.

Saigontourist offered discounts of up to 60% together and preferential services at more than 100 hotels and restaurants. To restore its domestic market, Viettravel is offering discounts of up to 40%. 

The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association says 50 airlines and travel companies, hotels and restaurants in HCMC have pledged discounted prices. Prices of road tours are down by 30% and air tours 35%.

Though the coronavirus epidemic has been contained in Vietnam, it is still growing elsewhere in the world. The Vietnam National Tourism Administration forecasts that domestic tourists will account for 95% of the total this year.