Vietnam welcomes 5.5 million visitors during National Day holiday
The National Day holiday highlighted Vietnam’s growing appeal as a safe and adaptable destination, laying a positive foundation for the year’s final months.
A large number of visitors come to the zone of the Ministry of National Defence at the exhibition on 80-year national achievements in Dong Anh, Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s tourism sector served around 5.5 million visitors during the four-day National Day holiday from August 30 to September 2, an increase of 83.3% annually, marking a positive start to the peak tourism season stretching into late 2025 and early 2026.
According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), Hanoi topped the list of destinations with 2.08 million visitors, three times higher than last year. International arrivals exceeded 80,000, up 35%. Tourism revenue was estimated at 4.5 trillion VND (170.45 million USD), a year-on-year rise of 80%, while average hotel occupancy reached 83%, up 22.6%.
Ho Chi Minh City came second, attracting 1.45 million visitors, including around 45,600 foreigners. Some 300,000 visitors stayed in local accommodation facilities, where average occupancy hit 87%. The city earned an estimated 4.14 trillion VND in revenue. Hai Phong welcomed 1.03 million tourists, up 8%, including 29,518 foreigners (up 5%). Hotel occupancy averaged 50%.
Other destinations also reported positive results, including Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Lam Dong, Ninh Binh, An Giang, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai and Hue.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the VNAT, said preparations for the holiday period had been made well in advance, ensuring smooth services. No serious incidents involving tourists were reported nationwide.
The surge in visitor numbers and the safe operation of tourism activities were attributed to several factors: the extended holiday, the 80th National Day celebrations, improved transport infrastructure thanks to new expressways, greater transport options, diversified tourism products, and tighter management.
Nevertheless, challenges remained, including traffic congestion at certain locations, hotel shortages in Hanoi, and adverse weather affecting tourism in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An.
൲ Overall, the holiday highlighted Vietnam’s growing appeal as a safe and adaptable destination, laying a positive foundation for the year’s final months./.
As many as 32 institutions have linked with the VNeID electronic identification platform to support the distribution of gifts and social welfare payments delivered on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.
According to the Management Board of the Memorial Site for late Party General Secretary Le Duan and Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, from August 30 to September 2, the site welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors. On September 2 alone, more than 3,800 people visited to offer incense, marking the highest daily number ever recorded.
Between August 30 and September 2, when the capital hosted a wide range of cultural and celebratory events, Hanoi authorities directed the operator to provide free rides. Nearly 690,000 passengers benefited from this policy, including more than 468,000 on Line 2A and over 217,000 on Line 3.1.
Renowned for its unspoiled beauty — from pristine white-sand beaches to a refreshing climate and dozens of picturesque islets — much of the island’s potential had remained untapped.
Since 2011, the title “Vietnam Tourism Ambassador” has been conferred on several distinguished figures, each of whom has played a part in carrying the country’s image onto the global stage.
The operation of the cultural train, Metro Line 2A, and bus routes not only eases traffic congestion but also opens new opportunities to explore Hanoi in a modern, eco-friendly way.
The initiative seeks to foster linkages between tourism products across different regions while preserving and showcasing ethnic cultural identities. It also aims to enhance Lam Dong’s tourism brand in both domestic and international markets, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development.
As part of the programme, around 250 international guests enjoyed destination and culinary experiences across the city from September 4 to 8, creating memorable impressions of the southern hub.
The event offers visitors a vivid “miniature journey” through Vietnam’s diverse regions. Inside halls H5, H6, and H7, every booth is a dazzling deep dive into a locality’s culture, history, and economic potential.
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.
A series of major trade and tourism connectivity events opened on September 4 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring Vietnam International Sourcing (VIS) 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Export Forum, and the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City (ITE HCMC) 2025.
As the host of the grand parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of National Day and the Exhibition on national achievements, Hanoi welcomed more than 2.08 million visitors during the holiday, triple the figure from the same period in 2024.
The 12th Tourism Promotion Organisation for Global Cities (TPO) General Assembly, which is taking place in HCM City, encourages environmentally friendly solutions, climate-conscious practices, and the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
Hanoi received around 2.08 million visitors during the four-day National Day holidays from August 30 to September 2, three times higher than the figure in the same period last year, the municipal Department of Tourism reported.
Vietnam’s national tourism strategy to 2030 identifies golf tourism as a priority to enhance competitiveness. With natural advantages, growing infrastructure, and cross-sector cooperation, Vietnam is poised for a breakthrough. Long-term success, however, depends on diversified products and top-tier experiences that secure Vietnam’s place on the global golf map.
This year, demand for historical, heritage, and experiential tourism in Tuyen Quang province is expected to rise among both domestic and international travellers. Travel companies have responded by developing new tours and routes to serve visitors.
Phu Quoc special zone in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang is cementing its position as a prime destination for visitors in Vietnam and the world, expecting to welcome more than 7 million tourist arrivals this year.
According to statistics from the Chinese side, in the first seven months of 2025, the number of outbound tourists through the Youyi Guan border gate reached 61,800, an increase of 85.31% compared to the same period last year, particularly amidst the booming summer tourism season.
As the four-day National Day (September 2) holiday is approaching, Ho Chi Minh City is stepping up preparations to welcome an anticipated surge of visitors, with travel companies, hotels and tourist attractions upgrading services and offering new experiences to meet growing demand.
For the eight months of this year, the total number of visitors to Hanoi reached 21.58 million, up 13.9% year-on-year. Of the total, international tourist arrivals were 4.96 million, a year-on-year increase of 25.8%. Total revenue from tourism in the period hit an estimated 85.8 trillion VND, up 17.1%.
Deputy CEO of Vietnam Airlines Nguyen The Bao said the event is not only a trade promotion platform but also a symbol of the vitality and creativity of Vietnam’s tourism industry.
