Steve Nguyen, General Manager of Trip.com Vietnam, said the figures indicate a clear shift in how Vietnamese people celebrate the New Year, with a growing willingness to spend the entire holiday on long-distance travel.
He added that the sharp rise in Vietnamese visitors to China points to the potential created by streamlined travel policies, along with cultural similarities in Lunar New Year celebrations between the two countries.
Trip.com reported that compared with the same period last year, air travel demand in Vietnam rose sharply, with domestic routes up 77 per cent and international routes increasing by 67 per cent. This pointed to stronger purchasing power and travel demand in the Vietnamese market.
Accommodation preferences also shifted toward higher-end options. Trip.com said more than half of all travellers, or 51 per cent, chose five-star hotels for their Lunar New Year trips, while 30 per cent opted for four-star properties. Only 19 per cent selected accommodation rated three stars or below, highlighting that “self-reward” through premium services has become a key travel priority.
On the international travel map, China ranked as the second most popular destination for Vietnamese travellers. Among the top 10 fastest-growing cities by flight bookings, China accounted for three, including Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai.
Japan ranked fourth in total booking volume but recorded standout growth in Fukuoka and Nagoya, where bookings surged by more than 370 per cent and 200 per cent respectively. Long-haul markets such as Australia and the Republic of Korea (RoK) continued to attract steady interest, supported by their diverse travel experiences.
Trip.com also noted that international trips were increasingly booked closer to departure dates. Last year, 49 per cent of travellers made bookings more than 60 days in advance, compared with 46 per cent this year. For domestic travel, booking behaviour remained relatively stable, with around 42 per cent of travellers reserving at least two months ahead.
Inbound tourism to Vietnam continued to grow strongly during the Lunar New Year period, with international arrivals up 60 per cent. China, the RoK, Japan and Thailand remained the main source markets, while emerging demand was recorded from Spain, Russia, Canada and Myanmar.
In terms of local experiences, Trip.com said the Hon Thom Cable Car in Phu Quoc Special Zone was the most booked attraction. Other popular cultural and natural sites included the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre, Dolphin Cruise Ha Long and Ba Na Hills SunWorld, reflecting the wide range of experiences sought by international visitors.