Travel

On the first days of the Lunar New Year 2026, amid the lively and joyful atmosphere of spring, provinces and cities across the country have welcomed large numbers of visitors, marking the start of a year full of promise for the tourism industry.

Viet Nam has once again been voted as the world’s most affordable country for expats in 2026, securing the top spot for the fifth consecutive year, according to the French newswire Journal du Net (JDN).

In the early days of the Year of the Horse, the cultural tourism train “Ha Noi Five Gates” Train (The Ha Noi Train) officially launched a special programme entitled Bringing Spring Home.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026, with the message: joining hands to shape the future of tourism, has provided an important platform for Southeast Asian nations to strengthen cooperation, advance sustainable and inclusive growth, and position ASEAN as a diverse, well-connected and globally competitive destination.

On the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026, numerous travel companies nationwide simultaneously held spring departure ceremonies, opening the early-year tourism season in a vibrant and buoyant atmosphere.

In 2026, Quang Ninh aims to attract more than 22 million visitors, including about 5.2 million international arrivals; and earned a total revenue of at at least 65 trillion VND (2.5 billion USD).

Da Nang on February 17 (the first day of the Lunar New Year) launched several programmes to welcome the new year.

Whenever Tet arrives and spring returns, the Kim Lien Special National Relic Site (Nghe An Province) becomes a sacred destination for people across the country. Visiting Uncle Ho’s hometown in the early days of the Lunar New Year is not only a spring excursion amid peaceful rural scenery, but also a journey of gratitude and reverence toward President Ho Chi Minh – the national liberation hero and an eminent cultural figure.

According to the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism, Ha Noi’s tourism sector has continued to make a strong impression, earning recognition in several major categories of the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations 2026 Awards recently announced by Tripadvisor.

Luxury cruise ship Le Jacques Cartier, operated by French expedition line Compagnie du Ponant, docked at Quy Nhon Port on February 15, bringing 120 foreign passengers to central Viet Nam's emerging tourism destinations.

Viet Nam promoted its tourism strengths at the HOLIDAY & SPA EXPO 2026, one of the largest annual travel fairs in Bulgaria and the Balkan region, in a bid to expand its presence in Southeast Europe.

Phu Quoc International Airport recorded 50 international flights on February 14, marking the highest daily figure since the airport commenced operations in 2012, welcoming more than 30,600 passengers and signaling a vibrant Lunar New Year peak season for the island.

Viet Nam, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan and mainland China are emerging as the most favoured destinations for Hong Kong (China) residents during this ongoing Lunar New Year holiday.

A “zero-fee” policy has been applied as a gesture of gratitude to the community and to help stimulate tourism after the Yen Tu Complex of Monuments and Landscapes was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Under the policy, visitors will be exempt from entrance fees for three years, from 2026 to the end of 2028.

Ha Noi’s tourism sector has continued to make a strong impression, earning recognition in several major categories of the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations 2026 Awards recently announced by Tripadvisor.

Lien Khuong International Airport in Duc Trong commune in the central province of Lam Dong will be temporarily closed from March 4 to August 25, 2026, to facilitate runway and taxiway repair works.

With around nine days off, the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026 is not only a time for reunions with family and friends but also an ideal window for people to explore stunning natural scenery, experience culture, enjoy spring outings, or take a relaxing getaway.

The Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026 holiday reveals a clear diversity in Vietnamese travel patterns, with consumers increasingly opting for early departures to bypass peak crowds or embracing short-haul getaways abroad, said Country Manager of Booking.com for Viet Nam Branavan Aruljothi.

Recently, in the program "The Magical Garden," La Une, the Belgian Broadcasting and Television (RTBF), presented to the public images of Viet Nam with its pristine beauty, hidden behind forests and overlapping mountain ranges. This land, once devastated by war, has persistently revived and risen with vitality.

Con Dao on February 10 welcomed its first international cruise ship in 2026, signalling a promising start for the island’s tourism sector this year.