Hanoi (VNA) – The four-day holiday, which began from August 30, not only brought huge revenues to the tourism sector but also boosted domestic consumption, with strong demand for dining, shopping, and travel.
This year’s National Day holiday saw an unprecedented boom in domestic tourism. Hanoi welcomed about 2.08 million visitors, earning nearly 4.5 trillion VND (170.5 million USD) in revenue, surging by 80% compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City also served nearly 1.45 million tourists, raking in an estimated 4.14 trillion VND, doubling that of the 2024 holiday.
Central tourism hubs also proved their enduring appeal. Da Nang welcomed 620,000 visitors, up 24% year-on-year, earning over 2.2 trillion VND. Khanh Hoa received more than 900,000 visitors with nearly 936 billion VND in revenue, while Hue hosted about 196,000 holidaymakers, earning nearly 310 billion VND - an increase of over 134%.
These figures highlight not only the strong appeal of destinations but also how long holidays are becoming a “must-go” occasion for Vietnamese travellers. In many cities, 4- to 5-star hotels reported occupancy rates of over 80%, with some fully booked.
Airlines saw passenger volumes rise by 20–25% compared to normal days. Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City alone handled an average of 125,000 passengers per day during the holiday peak.
As an integrated economic sector, the tourism big win also drove a sharp rise in consumer spending across various industries.
The tourism sector’s strong performance in the reviewed period spurred a sharp rise in consumer spending across areas - remarkable at a time when most households have been tightening budgets, even on essential needs, due to economic challenges.
Tran Anh Tung from Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF) noted that the holiday gave a major boost to overall demand.
With an estimated average spending of 2 million VND per visitor per day, total direct social spending could reach over 72 trillion VND, equivalent to 0.8–1% of quarterly GDP, Tung said, stressing that this figure clearly demonstrates the significant role of tourism in short-term consumption.
The surge in visitors also benefited suppliers of agricultural products, food and beverages, fuel, and logistics. Dining services at many tourist hubs saw revenues rise by around 30%, while public transport, taxis, railways, and airlines reported average increases of 20 – 25%.
Economists emphasised the need to turn this seasonal boost into a long-term driver of growth.
Tung suggested building an ecosystem that supports the tourism–consumption cycle, from regional linkages to micro-credit packages. Localities can stimulate tourism demand through discounting entry tickets, giving weekend lodging promotions and inter-provincial tours, he said, adding that banks can consider offering 0% installment plans for three months on tour bookings and resort packages.
Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Huu Huan emphasised the importance of an “event calendar” as economic infrastructure. He said that if quarterly schedules of festivals, and sports and MICE events are announced early, businesses can proactively design tourism, dining, and shopping packages to maintain steady revenues.
Huan added that on-site spending should be boosted through targeted cashback, discounts, tax incentives, national reward point alliances, and integrated transport tickets, while also promoting night-time economy initiatives, tourism–retail models, and short-term credit packages for small and medium-sized enterprises./.
