On the evening of February 20 and into February 21, large crowds flocked to the Ba Den Mountain National Tourist Area for the annual Colours of Tay Ninh festival, overwhelming cable cars to Ba Pagoda and Van Son peak, with many visitors sleeping overnight in open areas.
Guesthouses and cafes along the route from Tan Ninh ward to the mountain were fully booked.
Favourable weather, with dry and sunny conditions, supported the influx, which is expected to continue until after the first full moon of the lunar year.
Nguyen Minh Tu, a visitor from Ho Chi Minh City, said crowds were larger than last year but remained orderly, with pilgrims sharing space overnight and keeping the area clean, believing early morning prayers at the mountain bring good fortune for the year ahead.
The Tay Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said tourism during the Tet holiday was vibrant and safe, with strong growth in both visitor numbers and revenue.
Between February 14 and 19, the province welcomed about 395,000 visitors, up 19.8 per cent year on year, including 327,000 to Ba Den Mountain alone, a 10 per cent rise that underscored its status as a leading spiritual destination in southern Vietnam.
Eco- and agri-tourism sites including Long Dien Son, Chavi Garden, Happy Land, My Quynh Zoo, Milan Farm, Van Lai Vien and Tan Lap Floating Village welcomed a combined 68,000 visitors.
Total tourism revenue over the six-day holiday was estimated at more than VND 365 billion (USD 14.5 million), up 26.2 per cent from a year earlier.
Despite the surge, authorities said security, traffic management and food safety were ensured, with businesses required to display and adhere to listed prices and no reports of overcharging.