Thousands of Vietnamese head to China for National Day holiday

Tour guides began securing spots at the border as early as 2 a.m. in anticipation of the surge. By 5 a.m., tourists started to arrive, and by 7 a.m., when the border gate officially opened, the area was already crowded.

A source at the Lao Cai border gate reported that around 60 tour groups, comprising 2,200 people, had crossed into China by Saturday morning. The total number of travelers for the day is expected to reach 3,000, a significant increase compared to the usual 800-1,200 weekend travelers during the summer months.

Hoang Anh, a tour guide, noted that Saturday and Sunday are the peak days for travel through the Lao Cai border gate.

Luu Thi Thu, Vice Director of Hoang Viet Travel, revealed that trips to China make up 30% of the company’s total foreign tours sold for the National Day holiday, which lasts from Saturday to Tuesday. On Saturday alone, the company sent five groups to China, either by plane or through border crossings, totaling around 150 travelers.

Viet Media Travel also reported a surge in demand for tours to China compared to other destinations. The company has organized 40 tour groups from HCMC for the National Day holiday, with eight traveling to China by plane and 22 crossing through border gates.

Hoang Tuyet, a representative of Van Nam Group Tours, confirmed that many tourists prefer the Lao Cai border crossing.

Nguyen Ngoc Tung, director of Danh Nam Travel, said tourists had already begun traveling to China on Friday. The company has 16 groups, totaling 480 people, traveling to China during the holiday, double the number from the same period last year. Tung attributed the increase to a wider range of destinations and routes available, along with the appropriate holiday break length.

Traveling to China is also cost-effective, with tours through border gates priced at around VND4 million ($160.80). The high demand for China tours is evident in the near sell-out of popular flight routes, such as Beijing-Shanghai, which cost up to VND24 million and have been nearly booked out since mid-June.

Pham Anh Vu, vice general director of Du Lich Viet, noted that many northern Vietnamese tourists compared tour packages to China with those to Phu Quoc, citing affordable prices and the appeal of a new experience.

Thu added that tours to China are more popular than those to other destinations, both foreign and domestic, particularly via land routes. Simple procedures, no financial proof requirements and the availability of charter flights contribute to the popularity.