Tourists from Ho Chi Minh City want to travel by train to tourist destinations to save money but wait for 5 consecutive days off to book a tour.
According to a survey by VnExpress , three weeks before the April 30-May 1 holiday, tourists from Ho Chi Minh City have increased demand for train travel amid rising airfare prices.
However, the demand for traveling by train is increasing but the number of customers booking train tours is currently quite reserved. Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Tuyen, Head of Sales Department of Hai Dang Travel Company, said that there are quite a lot of customers coming to consult about trains but the decision to buy tours is not high. The most booked tours are Saigon - Phan Thiet and Saigon - Nha Trang - Phu Yen but the number of tours only stops at 2-3 groups.
"Partly because this year's holiday schedule is still pending approval, tourists are still waiting for official results to buy tours," said Ms. Tuyen.
The tourist train connecting the heritage sites of Hue - Da Nang at the end of March. Photo: Vo Thanh
Ms. Tran Thu Tra, Thu Duc City, said she plans to travel to Phu Yen with her friends by train. A round-trip air ticket costs nearly 4 million VND per person, while a train ticket costs just over 1 million VND.
"My friends and I focus on the experience so we chose to take the train. The Saigon - Phu Yen route also passes through many beautiful roads and is also an opportunity to enjoy the scenery," said Ms. Tra.
Ms. Bui Ngoc Nhi, living in Binh Thanh, shared that her family is also looking into some long-term train tours from Quy Nhon to Phu Yen but will wait until the official holiday results are available to decide whether to buy the tour or not.
"Buying a train tour requires a long break so traveling will be more relaxing. My family is still considering it," said Nhi.
Mr. Tran Huu Tam, Director of Intour Travel Company, said that because the holiday schedule for April 30 - May 1 is still pending approval, many tourists are still hesitant to buy tours until they are given a decision to take 5 consecutive days off. If the 5-day holiday schedule is approved, the company plans to add more short-term tours.
Hai Dang Travel's 3-day, 4-night train tours cost between 4 and 5 million VND. The most expensive train tour is the 5-day, 6-night tour along the Central Coast, costing around 8.7 million VND. According to Ms. Tuyen, this year's tour prices have not changed much compared to last year and there are many types of tours for customers to choose from.
On the afternoon of April 11, Saigon Railway Transport Company announced that it will organize 34 additional trains from Saigon to destinations such as Phan Thiet, Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, Quang Ngai and vice versa, to meet the travel needs of passengers during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, April 30 and May 1. Compared to the beginning of April, the number of additional trains has increased by 30, bringing the total number of trains running during this occasion to 178, with about 90,000 seats. Currently, over 45,000 tickets have been sold on all routes. Mr. Thai Van Truyen, General Director of Saigon Railway, said that this year the company adjusted ticket prices up 5% to cover costs and implement measures to improve the quality of passenger service.
For summer tickets, Saigon Railway has opened ticket sales for trains running during the summer until August 10, 2024. When passenger demand increases, the Company will organize additional trains. Currently, the ticket price from Saigon to Hanoi is the highest among the routes. A 4-berth air-conditioned sleeper ticket in the middle of the car costs 1.8 million VND, the lowest ticket class is a soft seat for more than 1 million VND, an increase of 3% to 10% compared to normal days depending on the seat type.
Quy Sa
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