On the afternoon of April 2, thousands of residents and tourists continued to flock to September 23 Park in Ben Thanh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, to hunt for peak-season travel deals at the HCMC Tourism Festival.
Discounts of up to VND5 million–VND10 million per customer
At the Saigontourist Travel booth, a wide range of deep discounts were offered throughout the four-day event. In the international segment, some tour packages were reduced by as much as VND10 million per customer.
Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy General Director of Vietravel, said this year’s booth was designed around the message “One million green journeys – sustainability,” making it a standout experiential highlight of the festival.
Customers purchasing tours worth VND30 million or more were eligible to join a lucky draw with various prizes, while some itineraries offered a 50 percent discount for the sixth traveler.
Demand for holiday tours has been strong. Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Du Lich Viet, said 70 percent–80 percent of tour capacity for the upcoming holidays has already been booked, particularly for coastal, island, and outbound routes. Amid rising airfares and fuel surcharges, the company has worked with airlines to stabilize prices, while increasing the share of overland and rail tours, as well as short-haul destinations. Early-bird booking packages with price guarantees have also been introduced.
BenThanh Tourist reported strong demand for domestic tours, while outbound travel to Northeast Asia such as South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan and Thailand continues to attract significant interest. As of April 2, more than 80 percent of both domestic and international tour packages for the April 30 and May 1 holiday period had been filled.
Community-based tourism gains momentum in Mekong Delta
According to travel firms, many companies have stepped up investment in the domestic market this year, particularly in community-based tourism.
Recently, Saigontourist Group and TSTtourist conducted survey trips to several notable destinations in Vinh Long Province, including Nhon Thanh Market, the Nhi Hoa Community Tourism Village, traditional mat-weaving craft villages, and coconut-based production processes.
Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa of Saigontourist Group said the survey program is a concrete step toward strengthening tourism linkages between Ho Chi Minh City and Mekong Delta localities, with the aim of developing distinctive products, enhancing destination competitiveness, and promoting green, sustainable and community-based tourism.
