VI
EN
During this year's Hung Kings Commemoration Day and April 30th - May 1st holidays, Vietnamese airlines are witnessing an interesting paradox: Despite airfare prices recording growth of 8% to 10% compared to the same period in 2025, booking rates on many key routes remain at record lows. This profound disconnect between the actual value of a ticket and market demand raises many questions for both passengers and management, while also reflecting a new consumer trend in the current economic climate.
According to the latest data from the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority, airfare prices for April 30th this year have reached levels equivalent to the peak period of the Lunar New Year in 2026. On major routes such as Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City, economy class fares are ranging from 3.2 to 4.2 million VND per one-way flight. However, contrary to predictions of an early sell-out, the occupancy rate on this vital route is currently only around 20-40%.
The soaring prices, reaching 4.8 million VND per one-way trip, are creating a psychological barrier, causing a slowdown in the rate of seat occupancy on tourist flights.
The primary reason for this situation stems from the fact that the two holidays are quite close together, allowing passengers to proactively spread out their travel schedules. Instead of concentrating all their travel on "peak" days as in previous years, the flow of passengers has been significantly distributed across the interspersed off-peak days. In addition, airlines have proactively increased flight frequencies to meet demand, creating a large supply of empty seats, preventing occupancy rates from breaking through in the early stages.
Although there are still many empty seats on key routes, the situation at tourist "hot spots" is completely different. Flights to locations with limited airport infrastructure or low flight frequency, such as Ho Chi Minh City – Tuy Hoa, Ho Chi Minh City – Con Dao, or Hanoi – Dong Hoi, have recorded occupancy rates above 90%.
In particular, the high cost of flights to Phu Quoc or Cam Ranh is becoming a major obstacle for many families. With prices reaching up to 4.8 million VND for the Hanoi – Phu Quoc route, many tourists have begun considering switching to other modes of transportation or choosing closer destinations that can be reached by road.
Contrary to expectations, many flights departing from Ho Chi Minh City to major cities still have many empty seats.
Another factor explaining the still low average occupancy rate is that passengers tend to book one-way tickets for the outbound journey and wait to see if the return flight becomes available. Surveys show that while there are still many options for the outbound journey, return flights on May 3rd are starting to experience a shortage on some routes such as Phu Quoc – Hanoi or Cam Ranh – Hanoi. Here, not only have ticket prices increased sharply, but many airlines have announced that economy class tickets are sold out. This indicates that actual demand remains very high, but the "close to departure" factor and careful cost calculations by passengers have prevented the market from experiencing an early "artificial boom."
Domestic airlines are simultaneously increasing flight frequencies to meet travel demand during the April 30th and May 1st holidays. This is an effort to ensure supply and stabilize airfare prices.
To ensure a fulfilling and cost-effective holiday in the current aviation market, travel experts and airline representatives offer essential advice to passengers. Travelers should take advantage of night and early morning flights. This is the most effective way to save 20-30% on airfare. Many airlines are increasing flights after 9 PM with significantly lower prices compared to peak hours.
Additionally, travelers should consider flexible departure dates. Due to the extended holiday period and the break in between, travelers should consider flying before April 29th or returning after May 3rd to avoid peak prices for return flights. With airfares increasing, passengers should carefully read the terms and conditions regarding refunds, cancellations, or changes to their itinerary to avoid unnecessary additional fees. It is essential to choose packages that include airfare and hotels through reputable travel agencies, which often offer better discounts compared to booking each service separately during this peak season.
This year's airline market during the April 30th and May 1st holidays clearly demonstrates a shift in consumer habits: smarter, more calculated, and no longer dependent on herd mentality. This requires airlines to have more flexible pricing policies to fill empty seats on key routes, ensuring business efficiency while meeting the travel needs of the public.
