HÀ NỘI — This year’s four-day National Day holiday, to be marked by a large-scale parade in Hà Nội to celebrate the 80th anniversary of national independence, offers a golden opportunity for domestic tourism to thrive as the capital prepares for a major influx of visitors and provinces nationwide unveil new travel products to meet shifting demand.

Accommodation supply well within capacity

Amid concerns over accommodation shortages during the holiday, Director of the Hà Nội Department of Tourism Đặng Hương Giang has assured that the city is well-prepared to handle increased demand. She noted that reports of hotels being fully booked are limited to certain central locations.

Searches on leading online booking platforms such as Agoda, Traveloka, and Booking.com show that a wide range of accommodation options in Hà Nội remain available for the occasion on September 2. While hotel bookings have risen slightly compared to regular days, full occupancy has not yet been widespread.

According to the department, Hà Nội's hospitality infrastructure is extensive and diverse, comprising 3,761 lodging facilities with over 71,200 rooms. This includes 85 hotels and serviced apartment buildings rated from one to five stars, offering nearly 12,000 rooms. An additional 3,676 unrated establishments with close to 60,000 rooms further enhance the city’s accommodation capacity, catering to all market segments.

The city has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period, Giang added. 

A chance to stimulate local travel 

While Hà Nội remains the centrepiece of the holiday’s festivities, the concentrated demand presents a valuable opportunity for nearby provinces to tap into the travel market, particularly among families seeking more relaxed and crowd-free getaways. 

Some travel agents and hotels report a growing trend of visitors choosing short-haul retreats to destinations like Hòa Bình, Ninh Bình, Tam Đảo, Sa Pa and Hạ Long, instead of heading into the capital.

To capitalise on the holiday travel surge, tour operators have been quick to introduce new packages. Among them, Paradise Vietnam, a prominent cruise operator in Quảng Ninh Province – home to the world natural heritage site Hạ Long Bay- will debut a new product: the Paradise Delight dining cruise. The seven-hour itinerary features visits to iconic sites, including Sửng Sốt Cave and Ti Tốp Island.  

A representative from Paradise Vietnam noted that bookings this year are being made earlier than usual, particularly for coastal resorts and high-end cruises. Combined packages including overnight cruises, fine dining, and hotel stays continue to be in high demand.

Amid high airfares, many families are opting for nearby destinations, combining round-trip limousine transfers between Hà Nội and Hạ Long with overnight cruises, offering a more cost-effective and flexible travel experience, according to Paradise Vietnam.

Cruise operators are projecting a 15–20 per cent increase in bookings this holiday compared to the same period in 2024. — VNS