Tourist attractions cash in on long holidays

According to data from local tourism departments released on Tuesday and Wednesday, HCMC, Thanh Hoa, Hanoi, and Nghe An topped the list.

On the first three days of the holidays (from April 29 to May 1), around 950,000 visitors came to HCMC, an increase of 126% over last year.

It estimated tourism earnings at VND3.13 trillion, an increase of 94%. The hotel occupancy rate was more than 70%, an increase of 7 percentage points.

Pham Nguyen Hong, director of the Thanh Hoa Province Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the number of visitors was a "record high."

Sam Son beach in Thanh Hoa is packed with tourists, April 30, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Tung Dinh

Despite the unfavorable weather at the start of the holidays, the north central province received nearly 1.2 million visitors, an increase of 33%. Its famous beach town, Sam Son, welcomed 850,000 visitors. Tourism revenues were up 48% at VND2.8 trillion.

In Nghe An that borders Thanh Hoa, thanks to good weather, many tourist destinations were crowded, according to its Department of Tourism. The province received 780,000 visitors, a 110% surge from 2022. The hotel occupancy rate and tourism revenues are estimated at 80% and VND1.5 trillion.

Hanoi reported revenues of VND2.4 trillion and 720,000 visitors. The Hanoi Zoo was the most popular attraction, and was visited by more than 130,000 people. Hotel occupancy was 58%, 16 points higher than last year.

Visitors at Hanoi Zoo on May 1, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy

Some other popular destinations also reported a large influx of visitors.

Quang Ninh Province, home to Ha Long Bay, said 620,000 visitors spent over VND900 billion and Khanh Hoa, home to Nha Trang, reported 800,000 visitors and VND850 billion. Ba Ria - Vung Tau, the coastal province that borders HCMC, received more than 411,000 visitors, an increase of 20%, who spent VND633 billion.

Mountain town Sa Pa received more than 185,000 visitors, its highest number ever in a Reunification holiday, and reported a hotel occupancy rate of the first three days of holiday reached 95%.

Another province with a high occupancy rate was Ha Giang, also with 95%.

Sa Pa earned VND355 billion and Ha Giang VND300 billion.

However, as expected due to high airfares, Phu Quoc Island experienced declines in visitor numbers and revenues. Phu Quoc, a tourism hotspot even in normal times, only received 112,000 visitors, down 11.5% from last year, whiles revenues plummeted 24% to VND132.5 billion. Many hotels reported occupancy rates of below 50% and tour guides were underemployed.