VI
EN
Having planned to fly to Hanoi to watch the September 2nd parade, Linh Nguyen from Ho Chi Minh City was surprised to find that airfare and hotel prices had skyrocketed, yet she still couldn't book a room. "Airfare from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi was double the usual price, and I tried booking rooms at 3-4 hotels but none had rooms in good locations," she lamented, settling for a small hotel far from Ba Dinh Square – the official parade and marching venue.
The central area is almost fully booked.
This year, Hanoi is the focal point of the nation as September 2nd will feature a large-scale military parade and procession, fireworks displays at five locations, and a series of cultural activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day. The event's appeal has led to hotels in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake quickly being fully booked.
The parade and march commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day attracted tourists from all over the country to Hanoi.
In the high-end segment, many hotels located in prime locations, near Ba Dinh Square or along parade routes, recorded high occupancy rates.
Wil'que Hotel is the first hybrid hotel in Hanoi, combining private rooms with public amenities, located on Cua Bac Street – the route of the parade block No. 6 that will pass through on September 2nd. According to hotel representatives, bookings for the September 2nd holiday have increased significantly, by about 40-50% compared to July and August. Guests started inquiring about bookings right after the April 30th-May 1st holiday, and recently, the rate of bookings through social media channels has surged dramatically.
With its convenient location for viewing the parade, the Wil'que Hotel on Cua Bac Street experienced a surge in bookings for the September 2nd holiday.
Boasting panoramic views of the tree-lined Thanh Nien Street, as well as overlooking both West Lake and Truc Bach Lake, Pan Pacific Hanoi is one of the most strategically located accommodations for the upcoming A80 event.
Representatives from the Pan Pacific Hanoi hotel stated that the occupancy rate for September 1st and 2nd is currently around 73%, with limited availability of lake-view rooms. The number of guests began increasing in early August and continues to rise. Compared to last year's September 2nd holiday, the number of guests has increased by approximately 30-40%, primarily from Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces seeking short getaways in Hanoi.
"Compared to this year's April 30th - May 1st holiday, the number of guests during the September 2nd holiday has also increased significantly, reflecting the strong recovery trend in domestic tourism. With the current booking rate, we expect the occupancy rate to reach 90-95%, equivalent to peak holiday seasons throughout the year," a representative from Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel shared.
Panoramic views and lake-view rooms at the Pan Pacific Hanoi Hotel.
According to the survey, by mid-August (August 14, 2025), bookings for the National Day holiday at Meliá Hanoi Hotel increased by approximately 6% compared to the same period in 2024 and are expected to continue rising in the weeks leading up to the date, thanks to the trend of bookings made closer to the A80 event. This trend of close bookings also aligns with the regional picture, as many reports indicate a shortening booking window and accelerated event-based travel.
With four days off, the number of people flocking to the city center to watch the parade and fireworks increased dramatically, causing hotels in the core area to be almost fully booked. Only hotels located a few kilometers from the center had any vacancies.
Prices have increased by 30-50%, and even budget homestays are scarce.
Many 3-4 star hotels in the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake have increased their prices by 30-50% compared to normal days. A 3-star hotel in Hoan Kiem that used to cost around 700,000 VND/night has now increased to 1.5 million VND; a 4-star hotel in the same area also jumped from 760,000 VND to over 2 million VND/night on the evening of September 1st.
Not only hotels, but also homestays and other accommodations priced under 450,000 VND per night, which attract customers due to their beautiful locations and reasonable prices, are almost fully booked for all three nights of the holiday. Some flexible travelers chose to stay in neighboring districts for more affordable prices and to avoid crowds.
The influx of tourists caused many hotels in central Hanoi to be fully booked from the beginning of August.
Hanoi continues to attract tourists despite rising costs.
According to the Hanoi Department of Tourism, as early as May, hotel bookings for the September 2nd holiday increased by 30-40% compared to the same period in 2024. In the first seven months of the year, the number of visitors to the capital reached nearly 18.4 million. Total tourism revenue is estimated at 73 trillion VND, an increase of nearly 15% compared to the same period last year. Not only has the number of tourists increased significantly, but the accommodation system in Hanoi has also boomed, with the number of searches for accommodation during the National Day holiday increasing more than 44 times compared to last year on one hotel booking platform.
According to Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Director of Marketing and Communications at Vietluxtour Travel, the number of tourists from the South booking tours and services to Hanoi for the September 2nd holiday increased by 40% compared to the same period last year, with 60% of customers booking all-inclusive tours. This strong appeal stems from the lingering effects of the A50 event (commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification) and the early promotional activities for the A80 event (commemorating the 80th anniversary of National Day).
Not only Vietnamese tourists, but Vietluxtour also recorded a large number of international tourists from Australia, South Korea, and Europe booking connecting tours from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi during the holiday season this year. "The increase is about 25-30% compared to the same period last year," Ms. Thu said.
Ba Dinh Square, where the military parade and procession will take place on September 2nd.
Dispersing the flow of customers reduces pressure on the city center.
Facing the risk of overcrowding in central streets, the Hanoi Tourism Association has advised tour operators to expand their itineraries to less congested destinations: the Military History Museum, the Museum of Ethnology, Duong Lam ancient village, Bat Trang pottery village, Ba Vi tourist area, Van Phuc silk village, etc. International exhibitions in Dong Anh or large-scale entertainment areas have also been suggested to disperse the flow of visitors.
At the same time, Hanoi has developed many tours and routes launched since July to serve tourists visiting the capital during the September 2nd holiday, such as the "South Thang Long - Hanoi Heritage Route" tour, the Dao ethnic minority's herbal bath tour in Ba Vi, and rural agricultural tourism in Tich Loc commune. In addition, Hanoi also has 20 night tourism products, including the Tran Vu Bell program at Quan Thanh Temple, and new creative spaces such as the Truc Bach Subsidy Street and the Tram No. 6 Car - Heritage Clang, to alleviate tourist pressure in the inner city.
Tours and travel routes to the outskirts of Hanoi and neighboring provinces are being promoted to reduce pressure on the inner city area.
Despite rising airfare and hotel prices, the fact that rooms are fully booked is proof of Hanoi's special appeal during the 80th National Day celebrations. The capital remains an unmissable destination, where historical moments and festive atmosphere blend into an unforgettable experience.
