Tourism is booming during the April 30th and May 1st holidays.

In addition, some overseas tours to Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, etc., are quite popular.

Du khách tham quan, mua sắm tại chợ Bến Thành, quận 1, TPHCM — Tourists visit and shop at Ben Thanh Market, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

Eager to travel to Ho Chi Minh City during the holiday, Mr. Lam Quoc Anh (from Hanoi) said that his two sons, both in 10th grade, have been constantly urging their parents to let them watch the parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country. “The children want to see the cannon firing, the drone display, the air force's welcoming flight, and the military parade… We also want them to learn more about history and love their homeland more, so this April 30th holiday, the whole family will go to Ho Chi Minh City for a trip,” Mr. Quoc Anh said.

Besides the national-level celebrations with numerous large-scale activities, the April 30th and May 1st holidays in Ho Chi Minh City also feature top-notch cultural and artistic programs, promising to delight residents and tourists. For example, the artistic fireworks display on the evening of April 30th, taking place from 9 PM to 9:15 PM at 30 locations on the Saigon River, in District 1 and Thu Duc City; and the "National Reunification Day" event held on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, along the Saigon River from Ba Son Bridge to Nha Rong Wharf, with various artistic performances and water sports activities…

Du khách nước ngoài trải nghiệm ẩm thực đường phố tại TPHCM — Foreign tourists experience street food in Ho Chi Minh City.

On this occasion, several travel agencies also launched impressive tours to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country. A prime example is the "50 Years - Returning to Beloved Southern Vietnam" tour by Saigontourist, designed for veterans from all over the country to visit former battlefields in Ho Chi Minh City, combining sightseeing with tourism. Besides historical sites (Cu Chi Tunnels, Can Gio Rung Sac War Zone, Reunification Hall, etc.), visitors will also get to explore the Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien Metro Line 1, Hiep Phuoc Industrial Park, the City Post Office, Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, the City Theatre, Nguyen Hue pedestrian street, and experience a city tour on a double-decker bus…

Or consider the "50th Anniversary Train Journey: Connecting Cultural Regions" tour program by Vietravel Tourism Company. Tourists will experience a multimodal journey along 5 of Vietnam's most beautiful train routes, cruise on Ha Long Bay and Nha Trang, and enjoy the finest Vietnamese cuisine as they travel through various regions... At 11:30 AM on April 30th, tourists will be present at the Reunification Hall at this historically proud moment for the nation...

According to Mr. Tran The Dung, General Director of Vietluxtour Travel, tour packages such as "Legends of the Special Forces Heroes of Rung Sac," "Saigon Commandos," and "Saigon Past and Present" are very popular during the April 30th and May 1st holidays. The company also noted a significant shift in the number of tourists from other provinces and cities flocking to Ho Chi Minh City during this holiday period, with tour bookings increasing by approximately 50% compared to the same period last year.

Many flights are sold out.

According to the Vietnam Civil Aviation Authority, during this holiday period, airlines are expected to operate 7,536 flights, providing approximately 1.5 million seats, an increase of over 20% compared to normal days. Some routes with high booking rates include Hanoi - Dong Hoi (approximately 103%); Hanoi - Chu Lai (95%); Ho Chi Minh City - Tuy Hoa (100%); Ho Chi Minh City - Con Dao (92.7%)... Flights departing from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City on April 29th cost between 3.1 and 3.8 million VND per person, equivalent to Tet holiday prices (depending on the airline).

Besides the overcrowding of domestic tours, outbound tours are also booming. According to BenThanh Tourist, at the opening ceremony of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival (held a few days ago), a customer booked a tour to Northern Europe for nearly 105 million VND per person. In addition, tours to Thailand, Japan, South Korea, etc., are also attracting significant interest and bookings.

"Tourists tend to travel with family and friends, opting for premium packages that combine local culture experiences with relaxation," commented Mr. Thi Quoc Duy, Director of BenThanh Tourist's Individual Travel Center.

According to Ms. Hoang Thuy Linh, Deputy Director of Marketing and Communications at Saigontourist Travel, the company is launching 84 overseas travel itineraries this holiday season with discounts of up to 10 million VND per person. Saigontourist will also offer expedited check-in services at the airport and priority check-in in the business class area for customers purchasing tours to Europe, America, New Zealand, and South Africa.

The demand for leisure and travel is high during the April 30th and May 1st holidays. However, recently there has been a surge in the use of fake brand names of well-known travel agencies to offer cheap tours on social media. Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, advises customers to be wary of tours and itineraries with unusually low prices. Consumers should contact reputable travel agencies directly to inquire about tour prices, departure dates, itineraries, and customer rights.

Currently, it is difficult to reserve good, convenient spots to watch the fireworks at some restaurants and hotels along Ton Duc Thang Street and Nguyen Hue pedestrian street (District 1, Ho Chi Minh City)... Observations at hotels in the central area of Ho Chi Minh City show that the occupancy rate is currently around 90% and will be fully booked during the holiday. For guesthouses and hotels in District 10, Tan Binh District, Binh Thanh District, etc., the occupancy rate is also increasing daily.

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