When Reunification Day arrives, there’s always an increase in tourism. This year, with a 4-day weekend on tap, holiday-makers are booking short tours of Vietnam or Southeast Asia. According to travel agents in Hanoi, the number of people who have booked domestic or overseas tours is twice last year’s total.

Nguyen Thuy Duong of The Sinh Tourist told us: “Tourists have mainly booked beach vacations in Vietnam - packages of 3 days/2 nights or 2 days/1 night. Popular destinations include Co To, Ha Long, or Van Don Island in Quang Ninh province or Suoi Mooc in Quang Binh province.”

Tam Coc - Bich Dong in Ninh Binh province

This year, the Trang An-Tam Coc-Bich Dong scenic landscape complex and the Van Long Eco-tourism Area in Ninh Binh province are in great demand by both domestic and foreign travelers, having featured in this year’s Hollywood blockbuster film “Kong: Skull Island”. Duong said: “The warship used in the film’s expedition is here along with conical bamboo huts decorated with typical vintage items like fishing-baskets and the heraldic banners known as gonfalons. Visitors can take a free tour of the film’s shooting locations and take some great souvenir shots of their own.”

Other popular tourist destinations are Sa Pa in Lao Cai province, Moc Chau plateau in Son La, Phu Quoc Island, and Mui Ne in Binh Thuan. The Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2017 themed “Shining Marble Mountains” is also attracting a lot of bookings.

Ngu Hanh Mountain in Da Nang

This year the number of people booking inbound tours is up 30% even though tour prices have risen slightly. Travel companies are providing lots of discount tour packages.

Another trend this year is 1- or 2-day self-driving tours. Do Thanh Hoa of Hanoi said her family and several other families plan to organize a picnic at a resort about 100 km from Hanoi. "In previous years, during national holidays, we have often spent our vacation far from home - in HCMC or the southwestern region, for example. This year my friend and I will organize our own short tour to one of Hanoi’s outlying resorts, which is near the mountains with cooler weather. The price will only be about 300 USD per family. We will buy all the food and cook it ourselves, ensuring food safety and quality."

Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, and China’s Hongkong are popular outbound destinations, with tours priced from 260 to 390 USD per person.