On the afternoon of August 30, traffic moved slowly along Tran Quoc Toan Street between Lam Vien Square and the night market as large numbers of visitors headed into the city centre.
Traffic police were deployed to manage congestion, while vehicle numbers also rose sharply on Hung Vuong, Tran Quy Cap and Hoang Van Thu streets.
Dry weather and temperatures of around 19-20°C provided favourable conditions for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
High demand for accommodation has left many hotels in central Dalat fully booked.
Quach Long Hai, who owns a hotel on Nguyen Cong Tru Street, said his property had been fully booked since August 29 and had turned away further enquiries.
"Guests began booking from August 20 and we were full by August 29. Many people are still calling, but we have no rooms left," Hai said.
Do Thi Tham, a tourist from Phan Rang in Khanh Hoa Province, said her family of eight had chosen Dalat for the holiday but heavy traffic had made it difficult to get around the city centre.
Tourist attractions have also prepared additional activities for the extended holiday, including food, music and entertainment programmes.
Lien Khuong International Airport expects passenger traffic to rise by 20-30 per cent from normal levels. From August 28 to September 3, it expects to handle 36-40 flights and about 7,000-8,500 passengers a day.
The Lam Dong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked localities and tourism businesses to ensure adequate facilities and staffing to maintain service quality during the holiday.
