This year’s four-day National Day holiday, to be marked by a large-scale parade in Hanoi to celebrate the 80th anniversary of national independence, offers a golden opportunity for domestic tourism to thrive as the capital prepares for a major influx of visitors and provinces nationwide unveil new travel products to meet shifting demand.

A corner of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi.

Accommodation supply well within capacity

Amid concerns over accommodation shortages during the holiday, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang has assured that the city is well-prepared to handle increased demand. She noted that reports of hotels being fully booked are limited to certain central locations.

Searches on leading online booking platforms such as Agoda, Traveloka, and Booking.com show that a wide range of accommodation options in Hanoi remain available for the September 2 occasion. While hotel bookings have risen slightly compared to regular days, full occupancy has not yet been widespread.

According to the department, Hanoi’s hospitality infrastructure is extensive and diverse, comprising 3,761 lodging facilities with over 71,200 rooms.

This includes 85 hotels and serviced apartment buildings rated from one to five stars, offering nearly 12,000 rooms. An additional 3,676 unrated establishments with close to 60,000 rooms further enhance the city’s accommodation capacity, catering to all market segments.

The city has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period, Giang added.

A chance to stimulate local travel

While Hanoi remains the centerpiece of the holiday’s festivities, the concentrated demand presents a valuable opportunity for nearby provinces to tap into the travel market—particularly among families seeking more relaxed and crowd-free getaways.

Some travel agents and hotels report a growing trend of visitors choosing short-haul retreats to destinations like Hoa Binh, Ninh Binh, Tam Dao, Sa Pa, and Ha Long, instead of heading into the capital.

To capitalise on the holiday travel surge, tour operators have been quick to introduce new packages. Among them, Paradise Vietnam, a prominent cruise operator in Quang Ninh province – home to world natural heritage site Ha Long Bay, will debut a new product: the Paradise Delight dining cruise. The seven-hour itinerary features visits to iconic sites including Sung Sot Cave and Ti Top Island.

A representative from Paradise Vietnam noted that bookings this year are being made earlier than usual, particularly for coastal resorts and high-end cruises. Combined packages including overnight cruises, fine dining, and hotel stays continue to be in high demand.

Amid high airfares, many families are opting for nearby destinations, combining round-trip limousine transfers between Hanoi and Ha Long with overnight cruises, offering a more cost-effective and flexible travel experience, according to Paradise Vietnam.

Cruise operators are projecting a 15–20% increase in bookings this holiday compared to the same period in 2024.

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