Major tourist hubs heat up as National Day holiday enters second day

The National Day holiday period is gathering pace at tourist attractions across Vietnam, with visitors choosing a mix of city-based activities, cultural experiences, entertainment and trips to beaches and islands.

Rather than traveling only to distant destinations, many families are spending their holiday in major cities, while well-known heritage and coastal destinations are also seeing strong visitor numbers.

Hanoi offers history, culture and city-based experiences

In Hanoi, historical sites, cultural attractions and new urban tourism products are drawing large numbers of residents and visitors on August 30.

The area around President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, Ba Dinh Square and the Temple of Literature has become busy with people visiting historical sites, taking photographs and joining the National Day atmosphere.

The Temple of Literature has seen visitors queue for tickets at times, including international tourists.

The festive atmosphere also extends to other parts of the capital. New tourism products are attracting attention, including Red River cruises and the “Hanoi 5 Gates – The Hanoi Train” route, which has reportedly been fully booked ahead of the holiday.

On September 2, Hanoi is also expected to offer free entry to a number of historical and cultural sites, creating another attraction for residents and visitors on National Day.

For Hanoi, local people do not necessarily need to leave the city to enjoy a varied break, with history, culture, entertainment and urban experiences all available within the capital.

Ho Chi Minh City sees more visitors at leisure and cultural sites

In Ho Chi Minh City, visitor numbers are also rising at entertainment, cultural and historical attractions.

From the morning of August 30, Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens welcomed large crowds, including families with children. Performances, animal areas and attractions for younger visitors are adding to the site’s appeal.

Historical destinations are also attracting strong interest. The Independence Palace, War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi Tunnels have all seen increased visitor numbers.

At the Cu Chi Tunnels, visitors can explore the underground tunnel system, watch documentary footage and experience spaces recreating wartime life.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City Book Street is a cultural gathering place during the holiday, with book displays, exchanges and activities for readers.

Entertainment destinations are also benefiting from the holiday crowds. Suoi Tien Theme Park is attracting many families, reflecting the appeal of destinations that are convenient to reach and offer activities for different generations.

Beaches, islands and heritage sites remain popular

Beyond the two major cities, well-known destinations across Vietnam are also moving into their peak holiday period.

In Nha Trang, the Nha Trang Tourist Pier welcomed nearly 11,000 visitors during the first two days of the holiday period, up around 40% from the same period last year. Around 7,000 visitors took sea and island tours in Nha Trang Bay on August 30, with international tourists accounting for nearly 40%.

Air travel is also supporting visitor flows to Khanh Hoa. Cam Ranh International Airport is expected to handle nearly 159,660 passengers during the break, with 813 arriving and departing flights. International flights are set to slightly outnumber domestic services.

In Quang Ninh, the city welcomed around 100,000 visitors on August 29, the first day of the holiday, up 32% year on year. Tourism revenue was estimated at around VND300 billion, up 44%.

Ha Long Bay alone welcomed nearly 6,400 visitors, while Sun World Ha Long Park received around 3,000 and Quang Ninh Museum more than 3,500.

The figures underline the continued appeal of Vietnam’s beaches, islands and heritage destinations during the five-day holiday break.

More crowds expected over the remaining three days

One notable feature of this year’s National Day holiday is the five-day break, which allows travel demand to spread across several days.

Some people began traveling from the first day, while many families chose to stay in their home cities or schedule outings later in the holiday.

Cultural, artistic, sporting and entertainment activities will continue in many localities in the days ahead.

Hanoi will host additional activities, including a fireworks display, and offer free entry to selected attractions on September 2, while Quang Ninh will continue its tourism, cultural and entertainment programs and Khanh Hoa will maintain its sea and island experiences.

In Hue, around 535,000 visitors are expected throughout the holiday, with occupancy at many accommodation facilities reaching around 95% during the peak period from August 29 to 31. The city is also hosting a range of cultural, festival and artistic activities.

After the first two days, the National Day holiday period is showing strong demand across two broad groups of destinations: major cities with rich cultural, historical and entertainment offerings, and well-known heritage, beach and island destinations.

With three days of the holiday still remaining and September 2 set to feature major public activities, visitor numbers are expected to rise further at many attractions across Vietnam.

VOV