Lunar New Year holiday 2026: Domestic tour “takes the throne”

Domestic tourism demand is increasing strongly ahead of the 2026 Tet holiday. According to internal data from Traveloka, the number of searches for Hanoi increased 1.8 times compared to December, showing that the Capital is still the top choice of tourists thanks to its cultural activities, traditional festivals and bustling Tet atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Da Lat and Phu Quoc recorded a more than double increase in searches compared to the previous month, reflecting the sustainable appeal of destinations that harmoniously combine culture, nature and entertainment. Notably, Nha Trang stands out with a more than three-fold increase in searches compared to the previous month. This growth shows the trend of Vietnamese tourists: a relaxing and health-care Tet holiday, as a gentle way to start the new year.

Mr. Charles Wong, Vice President of Commercial at Traveloka, shared: “Planning early Tet travel is gradually becoming a popular trend as travelers seek better prices, more options and greater flexibility. Tet is also the most meaningful travel season of the year and Vietnamese tourists want a seamless experience in implementing their plans.”

Although the economy is still challenging, many travel agencies say they still maintain stable growth, estimated to increase by about 15 – 20% over the same period last year. For domestic tours, Vietnamese tourists tend to prioritize choosing the East – Northwest experience with destinations expected to be full of tourists including Sa Pa (Lao Cai), Lo Lo Chai (Tuyen Quang), Moc Chau (Son La), Dien Bien…

Destinations near Hanoi and convenient transportation such as Cat Ba (Hai Phong), Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Ninh Binh… are still good attractions during Tet. Besides, the Central and Southern tourist routes with reasonable prices still attract the attention of many tourists. In particular, Phu Quoc is considered an attractive destination for both international and domestic tourists thanks to the advantage of Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ new routes at reasonable costs.

Most Vietnamese tourists choose to depart after New Year’s Eve, to still ensure the tradition of welcoming the New Year at home. Thanks to the long holiday, about 35% of guests choose to travel early before Tet and return for a family reunion on the first day of the year. This helps reduce local overcrowding pressure at destinations and helps travel businesses be more proactive in coordinating services.

Ms. Tran Phuong Linh, Director of Marketing – Information Technology, BenThanh Tourist Company, said the company noted that Tet tourism activities were very exciting, when many tours flying to Hanoi and Da Nang were officially “closed” early due to high demand. Currently, this company mainly only accepts customers for road tours from Ho Chi Minh City to Da Lat, Nha Trang and the Southwest routes with the occupancy rate reaching 80 – 90%.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, Director of VietSense travel company, unlike every year, when Tet is the time when tourists choose long-term foreign tours, this year the majority of families choose vacation travel programs at domestic tourist destinations. At VietSense, domestic tours with prices only slightly increased (10-15%) for package tours of Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Ha Giang, and Cao Bang are of most interest to tourists.

During this year’s Lunar New Year, tourism businesses also promote product development in the direction of increasing experience and improving service quality. Notably, the cultural element of Tet is integrated more deeply into the itinerary. Instead of just checking in, tourists want to participate in community activities, learn about customs and feel the local Tet atmosphere.

Mr. Bui Thanh Tu, Marketing Director of BestPrice Travel Company, said that with 9 consecutive days off announced early, the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 will create a clear “push” for the tourism market. “If Tet 2025 highlights the trend of “going for the atmosphere”, then Tet 2026 is more about optimizing experiences according to budget: high-end groups look for resorts/service levels; family groups choose destinations that are convenient to travel; young groups prioritize new experiences, check-ins, Tet festivals and hunt for deals.”

Vietravel representative said that this year’s domestic tourism market during Tet recorded a stable growth rate of about 5 – 10% with the customer base mainly being family groups and middle-aged guests, accounting for about 55 – 60% of the total number of visitors.

This group of tourists often prioritizes service quality, safety and moderate itineraries, avoiding too much sightseeing, to suit both the elderly and children. Meanwhile, the young tourist group accounting for about 30% tends to prefer the northern mountainous regions such as Ha Giang, Moc Chau or Cao Bang to experience the highland spring atmosphere and hunt clouds.

In terms of cost, this year’s domestic tours are designed to be diverse with many prices, to meet the needs of Vietnamese tourist segments. The tour segment priced from 5 – 10 million VND for 3 – 4 day trips is currently receiving the most attention, focusing on stable service and moderate schedules. On the contrary, young groups or tourists traveling for a short time after Tet often choose tours priced from 3 – 5 million VND, with convenient road travel methods.

In addition to the domestic growth trend, the tourism picture in early 2026 also recorded positive signals from the international market. Mr. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Viet Travel Company, commented that the increase in international flight frequency by airlines such as Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet, especially night flights to Japan, Korea, Australia… helps improve the experience and prolong the stay of tourists.

Localities also open a series of events and festivals, creating “golden opportunities” for businesses to develop new products and link inter-regional tours. According to forecasts of Vietnam Tourism, the number of international visitors at the end of the year is expected to increase by 20–25%, concentrated in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta routes. Combined with that, green products, health care, and agricultural tourism continue to be the main product lines.