Returning home aboard the SE6 train from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh City, 16-year-old Phuong Thao from Nghe An Province was still deeply moved after witnessing the historic moment of the ceremony commemorating the 50th anniversary ceremony of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. She also felt fortunate to have visited numerous cultural and historical sites linked to Viet Nam’s resistance era.
“As soon as I learned that the April 30–May 1 holiday would be a long break this year, I planned a trip to the city named after Uncle Ho. To save costs, I booked a flight for the outbound journey and a train ticket for the return trip about a month in advance,” Thao shared.
This was Thao’s first time traveling alone. Fortunately, with relatives living in Ho Chi Minh City, her family was reassured about her accommodations and meals.
“Besides queuing for hours just to witness the grand military parade, I spent a lot of time exploring historical and cultural sites. From the Cu Chi Tunnels and Independence Palace to the Saigon-Gia Dinh Commandos Museum, every stop left a lasting impression. It was a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand insights into the country’s history,” Thao said.
The train from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh City took around 30 hours. Despite the fatigue from over a day of travel, Thao remained cheerful and satisfied with her memorable journey. “I only regret not having more time to visit other nearby cultural and historical sites,” she added.
According to the Tourism Information Centre under the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, this year’s holiday saw many tourists opting for historically themed tours that offered a chance to honor the past, express gratitude, and relive the nation’s glorious memories.
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| Tourists check in in front of the Independence Palace. (Photo: THANH DAT) |
From the days leading up to and throughout the holiday period, a variety of key historical sites saw high visitor traffic, including Ba Dinh Square, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and the Viet Nam Military History Museum (in Ha Noi); the ATK Tan Trao revolutionary base (in Tuyen Quang Province); the Dien Bien Phu battlefield (in Dien Bien Province); and Quang Tri ancient citadel (in Quang Tri Province). Particularly notable were the museums and historic landmarks in Ho Chi Minh City, which drew large numbers of both domestic and international tourists.
From the perspective of tourism businesses, Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing and Communications Director of Vietluxtour Travel Company, said that this year, cultural and historical events were promoted early by local authorities. This contributed to raising the profile of destinations and enabled travel agencies to develop a wide range of suitable tour products and experiences.
“During the recent April 30 historical event, we saw significant interest in cultural and historical tours such as ‘Old and New Saigon,’ ‘Saigon Commandos,’ and ‘Memories of Saigon–Cho on.’ Of these, the ‘Old and New Saigon’ tour was especially popular among both international and domestic visitors. Guests began their journey aboard a high-speed boat and continued to various cultural and historical landmarks in the city,” Thu noted.
The Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism observed that proactive preparations and the organisation of large-scale cultural events, festivals, sports competitions, and art performances in coordination with businesses resulted in a wave of new tourism products. These initiatives boosted demand for leisure, sightseeing, and holiday travel during the break. Many travel companies also curated special holiday packages featuring diverse itineraries to meet the needs of all customer segments.
During the five-day holiday from April 30 to May 4, Viet Nam’s tourism sector was estimated to have served approximately 10.5 million visitors, an increase of 31.2% compared to the same period in 2024. In Ho Chi Minh City alone—where the main celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South took place—tourist numbers doubled.
The average occupancy rate at tourist accommodations nationwide reached around 70%, with the early days of the holiday exceeding 80%. Coastal destinations and Ho Chi Minh City stood out, with occupancy rates between 90% and 95%.
