HCM City travel agencies are offering discounts to attract customers during the summer period, usually the busiest time of the year for the industry.

Tours with Saigontourist to Ban Gioc Fall in Cao Bang Province and Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan, for example, are VND3.3 million (US$157) lower than they were last year.

Saigontourist along with Vietnam Airlines and Bhaya Cruises has launched a promotional tour to Ha Long Bay, including an overnight stay on cruises with discounts of more than VND4 million. Fiditour is offering tours from HCM City to sea resorts in central regions at prices between VND500,000 and VND3 million lower than they were few months ago.

Budget domestic tours to well-known destinations in northern and southern Viet Nam offered by travel companies, including Lien Bang Travelink and Vietravel, have fallen by 30 per cent.

Vietnam Airlines is giving travel companies in HCM City discounts of 38-58 per cent on flights from HCM City to Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.

Budget tours on passenger buses from HCM City to orchards in Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta are also attracting many customers. — VNS