Airfares and travel costs surge across Vietnam ahead of holiday rush
DNO - Ahead of the upcoming public holidays, surging travel demand is energising Vietnam’s tourism sector, with rising airfares and travel costs reflecting a vibrant rebound in mobility.
Airfares go up sharply
A survey shows that airfares on many domestic routes have increased by VND1 - 1.6 million per ticket, about VND1.3 million higher than the same period in 2025.
Popular routes connecting major tourist destinations such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Ha Noi and Hai Phong are seeing the steepest increases.
On the Da Nang - Ho Chi Minh City route, one-way tickets are currently priced between VND2.5 million and VND3.5 million, equivalent to VND 5 - 7 million for a round trip, up 40 - 70%.
Similarly, flights from Ha Noi to Da Nang on April 30 have seen strong demand, with many prime-time flights sold out a month in advance.
Ticket prices on this route range from VND2.5 million to VND4 million one-way, or VND5 - 8 million round trip, marking a 20 - 30% increase.
Passengers report difficulty securing tickets. Some flights reportedly sell out within minutes of being released, particularly during peak travel hours.
Airfares on other key routes are also climbing. Round-trip tickets between Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Noi during the holiday period range from around VND5.4 million to VND 6.8 million depending on the airline, up VND1.2 - 1.5 million compared to normal days. Airlines attribute the increase partly to higher aviation fuel costs.
Railway ticket prices have also risen. Tickets for the Ha Noi - Da Nang route currently range from about VND900,000 to VND1.8 million per trip, depending on seat or sleeper options, up 20 - 30%.
The Ha Noi - Nha Trang route is priced higher, from VND1.3 million to VND 2.3 million per trip, with sleeper tickets accounting for the majority.
Meanwhile, coach fares from Da Nang to other provinces have increased by around 30 40%.
Transport operators say the adjustments are necessary to meet surging demand, while authorities require transparent pricing and measures to prevent overcrowding during the peak travel period.
With demand expected to remain high, travelers are advised to plan early and secure tickets in advance to avoid last-minute price spikes or shortages.
In 2026, the Hung Kings holiday, which falls on the 10th day of the third lunar month, coincides with Sunday, April 26.
Workers will receive a compensatory day off on Monday, April 27, resulting in a three-day break from April 25 to April 27.
For the Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day holiday, the two official days off fall on Thursday and Friday.
Combined with the weekend, workers will have a four-day break from April 30 to May 3.
Ramp up rail and air capacity
Vietnam is significantly increasing both rail and air transport capacity to meet surging travel demand during the upcoming Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and Reunification Day - May Day holiday, which runs from April 24 to May 3, 2026.
The national railway operator has added multiple services across key routes. On the North–South axis between Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, five pairs of Thong Nhat (Reunification) trains - SE1/2, SE3/4, SE5/6, SE7/8 and SE9/10 - will operate daily.
Additional services, including SE11 and SE12, are scheduled on selected peak dates to ease pressure on the busiest travel days.
Regional routes are also being reinforced. Daily services will continue on major segments such as Ha Noi-Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City - Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City - Nha Trang.
Extra trains will be deployed on popular tourist corridors linking Ho Chi Minh City with Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, as well as northern routes including Ha Noi-Hai Phong, Ha Noi-Lao Cai and Ha Noi-Dong Hoi.
The railway sector is also maintaining five daily pairs of North-South trains as the backbone of the national transport network, while launching early ticket sales for the summer 2026 peak season.
Airlines are scaling up capacity in parallel. Vietnam Airlines Grou, including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and Vasco, plans to offer nearly 1.12 million seats across domestic and international routes during the holiday period, a 15.5% increase year-on-year.
The group is expected to operate around 5,500 flights, including more than 3,800 domestic services providing over 730,000 seats.
On key domestic routes, capacity is rising sharply. Seat supply on routes connecting Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang is up nearly 30% compared to normal levels, while the Ha Noi-Ho Chi Minh City route will see a 12% increase.
Low-cost carrier Vietjet is also expanding operations, adding around 500 flights, equivalent to a 16% increase, between April 25 and May 5, to accommodate holiday travel demand.
The coordinated expansion across rail and aviation reflects strong tourism recovery and rising mobility during one of Vietnam’s busiest travel periods of the year.