The nine-day Tet holiday has been regarded as a key factor driving a sharp rise in travel demand, particularly among family groups and overseas Vietnamese returning home. A lively festive travel atmosphere was seen in major tourism centres such as Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, and Khanh Hoa.
According to tourism sector statistics, the first holiday period of 2026 recorded strong recovery signals. The 2026 New Year holiday lasted four days, during which the sector is estimated to have welcomed around 3.5 million visitor arrivals, creating positive momentum for this year’s tourism season. Average accommodation occupancy nationwide reached around 51%, while many key destinations such as Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Noi, Nha Trang, and Da Nang recorded higher rates of 65% or more.
According to travel businesses, this year’s Tet travel trend shows several new features. Instead of travelling before Tet, many families completed their work commitments and then set off, taking advantage of the long break for leisure, experiences, and family bonding.
Vietravel Tourism Joint Stock Company reported that it had served more than 200,000 travellers on domestic and outbound spring tours. The structure of Tet travellers this year showed a relatively balanced distribution between domestic tours (42%) and outbound tours (58%). The most popular itineraries were four- to six-day tours, offering both convenient scheduling and a comprehensive experience for travellers. Notably, the number of overseas Vietnamese returning home for spring travel and Tet celebrations rose by around 30% year on year, indicating that the trend of family reunions combined with tourism is becoming increasingly popular.
From this demand outlook, since late 2025 tourism companies and travel agencies have proactively reviewed and refreshed their spring tour product portfolios, while designing flexible itineraries aligned with the duration and rhythm of the Tet holiday, enabling travellers, especially families, to plan early-year trips more easily.
In the domestic market, coastal destinations and areas with pleasant climates such as Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, and Phan Thiet–Mui Ne continue to attract visitors. Meanwhile, pilgrimage and cultural experience tours in the northeast, northwest, central, and western regions have seen strong interest.
The international market has also shown positive signs. The advantage of the nine-day holiday, together with demand for visiting pagodas and praying for peace at the beginning of the year, has meant that Asian routes continue to dominate. Southeast Asian and Southwest Asian tour groups to locations such as Thailand, Bhutan, and India are popular choices, while in Northeast Asia, spring tours to the Republic of Korea, Japan, Taiwan (China), and China continue to be considered by travellers thanks to dense and flexible departure schedules during Tet, along with diverse products and experiences.
The positive signals at the very beginning of the year indicate that Viet Nam’s tourism sector is entering a more sustainable recovery phase, not only in quantity but also in quality. Early preparation of supply, product diversification, demand stimulation and improved service standards have enabled travel companies to be more proactive during the peak season.
The extended Tet holiday has opened broader experiential space for families, not only for spring outings but also for leisure, connection, and “recharging” after a busy year. Tran Doan The Duy, General Director of Vietravel Tourism Joint Stock Company, shared: “Vietravel focuses on enhancing the quality of experiences and safety standards at every touchpoint. Entering the new year, we hope to embark with our customers on a more positive travel cycle: travelling more, travelling deeper, and travelling more responsibly.”
Experts believe that with the trend towards responsible travel, deeper experiences, and a combination of leisure, culture, and spirituality, 2026 could become a breakthrough year for Viet Nam’s tourism industry, making an important contribution to consumption, services, and economic growth.
