VietNamNet Bridge – Travel firms all have reported the sharp increase of 20% in the number of tours being booked for the April 30 – May 1 holiday.

Sam Son beach

The April 30 – May 1 holiday this year is expected to last four days. Moreover, labourers will have one more day off on King Hung’s death anniversary, April 26, which will make the holiday longer, which proves to be a good time for traveling.

Vu Thu Ha, a staff from the outbound tour division under ThangLong Tour, said that the prices of nearly all tours had increased. For example, the tour to Thailand cost $285 only in March, but is now selling at $329. Meanwhile, the price for the five-day tour to Beijing has increased by $20. The increases of $25 and $30 respectively have been announced for the tours to Malaysia and Singapore.

According to Mrs Ha, the number of tourists who have booked tours is very high, despite the price increases. She said most Vietnamese travelers wanted to go to Thailand, China and Singapore.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Le Huong, Director of Vietravel Hanoi, said that the company hoped to serve 500 clients this holiday. She said Vietravel Hanoi would offer discounts to travelers or groups of travelers who book tours many days in advance.

According to travel firms, many Vietnamese travelers will head for Sanya beach on Hai Nan Island in China to enjoy the fresh atmosphere there. In addition, travel firms are also offering new destinations on their tours to China, including Xi Chuan, Cheng Du, Hai Nan island, Nan Ning and Kun Ming.

Meanwhile, the most wanted domestic tours are the sea tours. Ha Long, Cat Ba, Cua Lo and Sam Son beaches will be full of people on the April 30 – May 1 holiday. An official from ITC, a travel company, said that most of the company’s clients were booking short-term tours, and most of them are families.

Hoang Tuan Tu, Head of the Domestic Travel Division under Vietravel Hanoi, said that on the occasion of King Hung’s death anniversary, the company has launched the tour ‘Going on a pilgrimage to the ancestral land’, which has attracted many travelers.

Moreover, two-day tours to Ha Long – Tuan Chau costing VND690,000, Sa Pa – He Kou (VND1,350,000), Hue – Da Nang – Hoi An (VND3,490,000) are also very attractive.

It is worthy to note that most travelers have booked rooms in high-grade hotels and coastal resorts in Hue, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Phan Thiet and Mui Ne. Some travel firms have reported that Furama resort in Da Nang, Hon Ngoc Viet (Vinpearl) in Nha Trang have all been fully booked.

The firms said that the biggest problem now was air ticket bookings. The demand for traveling is increasing, while the capability to meet the demand remains limited.

The firms said that it was very difficult to book tickets to Thailand. Vietnam Airlines has not yet announced a plan to offer more flights, which is making it difficult for travel firms to arrange tours.

(Source: Lao dong)