Mobilising a large fleet
Planning to visit her parents and enjoy a beach trip to Sam Son during the upcoming National Day holiday, Mai Thu (originally from Thanh Hoa) contacted bus operators on the Ha Noi-Thanh Hoa route early to book tickets.
Contrary to her concerns about potential overcrowding and price gouging during the holiday, transport staff assured her that there was ample vehicle availability and that fares would remain at standard levels. She decided to purchase four sleeper-bus tickets for her family right away, opting to travel on the evening of August 28 to make the most of their time.
According to Pham Manh Hung, Director of Ha Noi Bus Station Joint Stock Company, passenger travel demand is forecast to surge late in the afternoon on August 28 and throughout August 29 for those leaving Ha Noi; traffic will be concentrated on routes serving hometown visits, tourism, and family visits, particularly over short and medium distances. Conversely, demand is expected to spike on September 2 and remain high into September 3.
Ha Noi Bus Station Joint Stock Company has released forecasts regarding passenger and vehicle volumes at Ha Noi’s bus stations during the National Day holiday.
Giap Bat Bus Station expects peak-day passenger volume of around 9,000 and approximately 760 vehicle trips per day; high-demand routes include those to Thanh Hoa, Ninh Binh, Nam Dinh, and Thai Binh.
My Dinh Bus Station anticipates over 11,400 passengers and more than 770 vehicle trips daily, primarily serving routes to Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Phu Tho, Yen Bai, Dien Bien, Son La, and Lai Chau.
“To proactively manage passenger flow during surges, the company plans to deploy 500 additional buses: 200 each for Giap Bat and My Dinh stations, and 100 for Gia Lam station. The company mandates that the deployment of these extra buses be based on actual passenger numbers, vehicle occupancy rates, and the supply capacity of specific routes, avoiding indiscriminate additions that could disrupt regular schedules,” Hung emphasised.
To ensure smooth traffic flow during the holiday, the Ha Noi Department of Construction has issued a directive requiring local bus stations, Ha Noi Railway Station, and transit hubs—such as Long Bien, Cau Giay, and Hoang Quoc Viet—to arrange additional vehicles for peak days.
Simultaneously, transport companies are prohibited from cancelling scheduled trips to divert vehicles to private charter services; any intentional cancellation of trips or abandonment of scheduled slots will be strictly penalised.
Transport operators are forbidden from arbitrarily raising fares or imposing surcharges without official approval, or from exploiting the holiday travel surge to implement unreasonable price hikes.
During this holiday, the Viet Nam Railways Corporation is officially launching the HQ1/HQ2 train pair connecting the Ancient Capital of Hue and Phong Nha (Quang Tri), branded as the “Journey of Wonders – World Heritage.”
During the launch week (August 29 to September 5), the railway sector is offering a 50% discount across all ticket classes. Promotional fares for the Hue–Phong Nha route range from 210,000 to 380,000 VND.
The stops along the route are all distinctive attractions, such as the Complex of Hué Monuments, the Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, the Vinh Moc Tunnels, and the gateway to the cave systems of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.
Airlines increase capacity by approximately 10%
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam, the total seat capacity offered during the 2026 National Day holiday on key domestic tourism routes will reach nearly 1 million seats, an increase of about 10% compared to the same period last year.
Booking rates are currently concentrated on major tourism routes—such as those connecting Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang and Quy Nhon—and these key routes are expected to see a rapid rise in bookings as the holiday approaches.
“Airfares for this year's National Day holiday show signs of cooling down compared to previous years; while still higher than on ordinary days, the prices are considered reasonable and stable, allowing passengers to easily manage costs and select suitable flight times,” observed Uong Viet Dung, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam.
Airlines still have significant room to stimulate demand and adjust capacity in line with market trends. Additionally, the reopening of Lien Khuong International Airport starting today (August 19) provides passengers with more travel options.
A survey of online booking sites reveals the following: for the Ha Noi–Phu Quoc route, Vietjet fares range from 1.9 to 2.6 million VND per leg with plenty of availability; Viet Nam Airlines fares range from 2.6 to 4.5 million VND per leg; and Sun PhuQuoc Airways starts at 2.5 million VND per leg.
For the Ha Noi–Da Nang route, fares across airlines are comparable: Viet Nam Airlines ranges from 2.3 to 2.5 million VND per leg, while Vietjet ranges from 2.1 to 2.2 million VND per leg. ...Sun PhuQuoc Airways fares exceeding 2 million VND per leg...
On the afternoon of August 18, the Ministry of Transport issued an official dispatch requiring transport operators to plan for increased vehicle capacity, particularly on routes connecting to railway stations, airports, bus terminals, and wharves.
“Transport units and enterprises must ensure that no passengers are left without transport options; simultaneously, they must verify the declaration and public posting of freight and passenger fares (for trains and buses) and strictly penalize any unreasonable price hikes.
Agencies and units must maintain a 24/7 standby force to promptly handle emerging situations and publish hotlines to receive public feedback during the holiday. Furthermore, strict controls must be enforced regarding vehicle and driver conditions, with special attention paid to long-distance routes and double-decker sleeper buses,” noted Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan.
Leaders of the Ministry have directed the Viet Nam Road Administration to review and organise traffic flow on national highways and expressways; address locations posing safety risks or congestion, as well as sections under construction or repair; and coordinate traffic diversion and regulation at intersections, urban gateways, and major transport hubs experiencing high traffic volume—especially on routes leading into Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City.
In the aviation sector, airlines are required to proactively increase flight frequencies in line with infrastructure capacity and minimise delays or cancellations caused by avoidable factors.
Specifically, Noi Bai International Airport must step up inspections and traffic organisation in terminal areas, ensuring vehicles strictly comply with regulations on stopping, parking, and passenger pick-up/drop-off to prevent congestion.
