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The demand for travel during the Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam has been steadily increasing in recent years. Many travel companies have already finalized tour packages. A representative from Saigontourist stated: "For the 2019 Lunar New Year season, the company expects to serve 21,500 domestic and international tourists, an increase of approximately 10% compared to the same period last year."
A week before Tet (Lunar New Year), domestic tours, especially those involving air travel, are almost fully booked. Road tours near Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City usually close bookings a day before departure, allowing tourists to purchase tours during Tet.
A representative from Blue Sky Travel Company, based in Hanoi, noted a significant increase in Lunar New Year tours due to the longer holiday period. "This year, tours to Quy Nhon, Da Lat, Phu Quoc, and Da Nang are popular choices. The Lunar New Year is also a peak season for tours to Con Dao, Trang An - Bai Dinh, and Ha Long."
Domestic tour prices range from 2.5 to 8 million VND, depending on the itinerary. According to travel companies, domestic destinations account for approximately 60% of tours sold during this Tet holiday.
Besides familiar destinations like Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea, this year tours to Bhutan (from 39 million VND) and Japan (from 34.9 million VND) are popular choices for many tourists. These tours have auspicious departure dates, from the 1st to the 4th day of the Lunar calendar.
A representative from Vietravel stated that the company currently offers three charter tours to Fukushima (Japan), India, and Bhutan to serve tourists during the Lunar New Year holiday. Compared to traditional tours, charter tours save up to 30% on costs. For example, the Fukushima charter tour is priced at 24.99 million VND for a 5-day, 4-night itinerary. A regular tour with the same itinerary would cost around 35-37 million VND.
This year, with the extended Lunar New Year holiday, many tourists are interested in longer tours to Europe, the US, Russia to "hunt" for the Northern Lights, or to Switzerland for a spring getaway. The majority of customers are middle-class, and tour bookings have closed early to allow time for visa preparation.
A representative from Fiditour stated that tour prices for Tet (Lunar New Year) this year have increased by 10-15%, depending on market conditions and departure dates. "Tourists usually book in groups, mainly family and friends. This year, the 2nd and 4th days of the Lunar calendar are considered auspicious days for departure, so tours departing on these days are usually booked well in advance."
A new trend in this year's tourism market is the increased demand for private tours for families and friends. "Instead of choosing pre-packaged tours, many customers are proactively contacting travel agencies to select destinations, departure times, and service packages to book private tours," a representative from Saigontourist stated, adding that tour prices from travel companies can be better than those offered to individuals due to established partnerships for accommodation and transportation.
During the peak Tet holiday season, travel companies also advise tourists to book tours with reputable agencies, avoiding the temptation of cheap options to prevent unforeseen risks that could affect their travel plans at the beginning of the year. Tourists traveling to distant destinations such as South Korea, Japan, and Europe should prepare their passports and visas in advance of Tet.
