Hung King's Anniversary Holiday: Which destinations do tourists choose?

With a short holiday on the occasion of Hung Kings' death anniversary, Thu Phuong (Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi) said she has planned to go camping with 2 families of friends in the suburbs of Hanoi, which is also a "wind-up" trip for the upcoming trip on the occasion of April 30.

Thanks to the effect of the MV “Bac Bling” by singer Hoa Minzy, Bac Ninh has attracted a lot of tourists to explore in recent weeks. (Photo: CTV/Vietnam+)

“This year, I saved up my budget for the long holiday on April 30, combining going back to my hometown by the sea to visit my family and going on a trip with my parents and siblings. The weather was also warmer at that time, suitable for swimming in the sea,” Thu Phuong shared.

Thu Phuong is not the only one who has this mentality, but many tourists do too. Records from travel agencies show that tourism activities are not too bustling during the Hung Kings' death anniversary holiday.

Holiday trends on Hung Kings' death anniversary

Because the holiday falls on Monday, representatives of some travel agencies said the number of tourists is not as high as last year. Because most of the guests choose to travel until the end of the previous week, or wait for the April 30-May 1 holiday.

During the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day holiday in 2025, many Vietnamese tourists are looking for short-term domestic and international trips close to home with diverse experiences, from urban exploration to relaxing resorts around the capital such as Ba Vi, Tam Dao, Ninh Binh... or the Southern region with Vung Tau, Da Lat...

According to information from online travel platform Booking.com, the 10 destinations that Vietnamese tourists are interested in for their upcoming vacations are Da Nang, Da Lat, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Hanoi, Hue, Phu Quoc, Hoi An and Mui Ne. Notably, Nha Trang and Phu Quoc are the most searched domestic destinations, showing the lasting appeal of coastal areas.

Tourists visit the Independence Palace, Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: CTV/Vietnam+)

Regarding international destinations, Vietnamese tourists prioritize nearby destinations in Asia-Pacific such as Bangkok (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (Korea), Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Singapore, Osaka (Japan), Hong Kong (China), Ubud (Indonesia), Kyoto (Japan) and Taipei (Taiwan, China).

“As Vietnamese travelers have been looking for more meaningful experiences, we have seen a significant increase in their interest in destinations that combine relaxation, cultural exploration and adventure. The upcoming Hung Kings Commemoration Day long weekend is a great opportunity to make these trips a reality,” said Varun Grover, Country Manager of Booking.com Vietnam.

Experience destinations near the capital

Phu Tho is the focal point on the Northern tourism map during the upcoming holiday. The locality is expected to welcome about 4 million visitors during the 10-day festival (from March 29 to April 7, the main festival takes place on April 7, or March 10 of the lunar calendar). The 2025 Hung Kings Temple Festival will be held at the Hung Kings Temple relic site on Nghia Linh Mountain, Hy Cuong Commune, Viet Tri City.

The Hung Temple Festival has traditional activities and rituals including: the death anniversary of the National Ancestor Lac Long Quan and offering incense to commemorate the Mother Au Co; the death anniversary of the Hung Kings and offering flowers at the relief of President Ho Chi Minh talking to officers and soldiers of the Vanguard Army Corps, the palanquin procession; cultural, artistic and sports activities including bronze drum beating, cultural performances, nighttime performances, xoan singing, martial arts quintessence festival, water puppetry, etc.

Notably, on this occasion, when coming to the Land of Ancestors, visitors can explore many destinations and heritages with day tours such as Hung Temple - Hung Lo Communal House - Hung Lo Ancient Village; 2-day 1-night tour with Hung Temple - Hung Lo Ancient Communal House - Tam Giang Temple - Long Coc Tea Hill - Thanh Thuy Hot Mineral Complex; 3-day 2-night tour experiencing Hung Temple - Xoan singing - Long Coc Tea Hill - Xuan Son National Park.

Hung Temple Night Tour continues to operate during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Only 40km from Hanoi, Kinh Bac homeland is located on the other side of the Duong River, famous for its many temples, historical relics and attractive local specialties. In particular, thanks to the effect of the MV "Bac Bling" by singer Hoa Minzy, Bac Ninh has attracted a lot of tourists to explore in recent weeks.

Coming to the Quan Ho countryside, tourists can travel from Dong Ho painting village, visit Do temple, Phat Tich pagoda, But Thap pagoda, Dong Ky pagoda, Ba Chua Kho temple, and spend time enjoying local market cuisine in Nhon and Giau markets.

Further up in the Northwest, visitors can choose to pick ripe plums in Moc Chau, Son La. The hillsides of white plum blossoms that were extremely “hot” after the recent Tet holiday, which were considered to be the first to return in 10 years, are gradually “transforming” into fruit-laden gardens. In addition to taking “check-in” photos, visitors can also experience harvesting and eating fruit right at the base of the tree.

Na Ka plum valley, Mu Nau, Phieng Khoang, Nong Truong town or small plum gardens near the town center are prominent plum picking spots. Entrance fee to the garden is from 30,000 VND - 50,000 VND/person. The price of early season plums is often higher than the main season, from over 50,000/kg depending on the time and quality of the garden.

With nearby destinations suitable for short trips, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day holiday is expected to be a stepping stone for the upcoming long holiday on April 30, helping Vietnamese tourism soon reach its development target in 2025.

Lush green tea hills are a specialty of the homeland. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)