Domestic airfares increase by up to 20% during National Day holidays

Kim Tuyet, a resident of Hanoi, planned to travel to Da Nang during the holiday before her children return to school.

She bought round-trip tickets in early August, paying nearly VND3.8 million (US$152) per person for flights at convenient times. She described the price as “reasonable.”

Data from Viet Media Travel Company indicates that round-trip airfares from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to major domestic tourist destinations during the holiday increased by about 10-20% compared to the low season, which begins in mid-August.

According to surveys on ticket prices from Vietnamese airlines, the highest fare for a one-way flight on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route with Vietnam Airlines on Aug. 30 was VND2.6 million, marking an 8% increase compared to the previous week. During the peak travel month of June, this fare reached up to VND3 million.

Vietjet Air’s fares on the same route were priced at VND2.3 million, representing a 25% increase from the previous week.

For the Hanoi-Nha Trang route on Aug. 30, fares ranged from VND2.4 to 3 million one way, an increase of about 24% compared to the previous week. In June, fares for less desirable flight times reached up to VND3.8 million.

Ticket prices tend to increase compared to normal days, but mainly on the beginning and end of holidays, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said.

To accommodate the high travel demand during the holiday season, airlines have planned to increase the number of flights, particularly on domestic routes.

From Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, airlines will operate more than 4,200 flights, averaging 840 flights per day. This represents a 3% increase compared to the previous holiday week and a 3.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

On domestic routes alone, there will be approximately 600 flights per day, a 5% increase compared to the previous holiday week.

The number of seats available on domestic routes from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 is expected to exceed 600,000, with an average of 122,000 seats per day. This is a 5% increase compared to the previous holiday week and a 1.5% increase compared to the same period last year.

Popular tourist destinations such as Vinh, Binh Dinh, Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc will see an average of 171 flights per day on domestic routes, reflecting a 2% increase compared to the week before the holiday.