Nearly three weeks before the combined holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day, domestic flight and train tickets have surged in price and quickly sold out during peak travel hours.
Routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to popular destinations such as Danang, Phu Quoc and Dalat are now commonly priced between VND 2.5 million and VND 4.5 million (approximately USD 100 to USD 180) per one-way ticket.
By April 10, most flights during convenient time slots for the holiday peak were already fully booked, despite airlines adding extra services.
Rail fares have also risen by 10 to 15 per cent due to higher fuel costs since March, adding further pressure on travel budgets.
Facing these rising expenses, many families are choosing to drive instead.
Nguyen Minh Quan from Cau Giay Ward in Hanoi said his family and a group of friends are planning a late-April road trip to the Central Highlands.
“Initially, we considered flying for convenience, but ticket prices during the holiday are too high, especially as each family has four to five members. Travel costs would take up most of the budget, so we decided to drive,” he said.
The group plans to travel from Hanoi to Danang before continuing along National Highway 14 to the Central Highlands, or via the Danang-Quang Ngai Expressway connecting to National Highway 24.
To ensure comfort, the group intends to limit driving to 500-800 kilometres per day, with carefully planned rest stops.
Quan estimated fuel costs for the trip at VND 7 million to VND 10 million (approximately USD 280 to USD 400), higher than previous journeys but still significantly cheaper than airfare for a family of four.
Similarly, Tran Van Tuan from Yen So Ward said his family plans a Hanoi-Hue-Danang road trip from April 26 to May 3.
Round-trip air tickets would cost about VND 7.2 million (approximately USD 285) per person, or nearly VND 30 million (approximately USD 1,200) for a family of four.
By driving instead, he expects to spend around VND 4 million (approximately USD 160) on fuel, while benefiting from greater flexibility and convenience, particularly when travelling with young children.