National holiday to enjoy added travel routes

Many flight and train tickets to popular tourist destinations in Vietnam have been either sold out or seen their prices double. Prices have increased despite most operators raising their capacity for the four-day long national holiday to celebrate the Reunification Day (April 30) and Labor Day (May 1).

A representative of Vietnam Airlines said the national flag carrier is expected to supply nearly 500,000 seats for the period, up 100,000 compared to normal.

These extra seats are concentrated on routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to famous tourist hotspots like Da Lat in the Central Highlands, Da Nang and Quy Nhon along the central coast, and Phu Quoc Island in the south.

During the holiday, Bamboo Airways is scheduled to increase their seats by an average 12-15 percent on flights from Hanoi and HCMC to popular tourist destinations.

A representative of Bamboo Airways said flights from major cities to Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, and Quy Nhon are nearly sold out and that prices for the remaining seats had increased several weeks ago.

The carrier said the highest ticket price was VND8.4 million ($364) for a Hanoi-Con Dao return trip. Tickets for flights on the route have been sold out.

On Vietnam Airlines' website, flights from HCMC to Con Dao from April 29 to May 4 have all been booked, including economy and business class.

Nhat Beach in Con Dao Island in southern Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstock/Andy Tran.

Located around 230 kilometers (143 miles) southeast of HCMC, Con Dao Archipelago, once dubbed ‘Hell On Earth,’ is an emerging tourist destination in Vietnam.

Vietnam Air Services Company, commonly known as VASCO, a subsidiary of Vietnam Airlines, and Bamboo Airways are the only two airlines currently operating regular flights to the island, Vietnam's largest.

Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) will add dozens of trains to its Hanoi-Thanh Hoa, Hanoi-Vinh and Hanoi-Dong Hoi routes.

In addition, it would add more trains connecting HCMC to tourist hotspots like Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Phan Thiet, home to resort town Mui Ne.

Vietnam has contained its latest Covid-19 outbreak that reemerged on Jan. 28. All 13 affected localities including hotspot Hai Duong have passed many days without community transmissions.

With the Covid-19 outbreak contained, domestic air travel demand has returned to normal, with many cities and provinces, including Hai Phong, Hanoi, HCMC, and Quang Ninh allowing tourism services to resume.