Higher airfares push Vietnamese travelers toward flexible holiday plans

Under the Labor Code, public employees are entitled to two days for the Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day holiday.

In 2026, the two official days off fall on Thursday and Friday. Combined with the weekend, workers will have a four-day break from April 30 to May 3.

A survey of ticketing platforms shows that one-way fares on the Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi air route for departures on April 29 range from VND3.2 million to VND4.5 million (US$121.4 - $170.7).

Travelers opting to fly one or two days earlier can find tickets priced between VND2 million and VND2.8 million ($76 - $106).

Similarly, the prices of flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc close to the holiday peak range from VND2.5 million to VND3.5 million ($95 - $133) per leg, while tickets for April 27 and 28 were significantly cheaper, ranging from VND1.5 million to VND2.2 million ($57 - $84).

Return flights also show a pronounced spike.

On May 3, when the holiday break ends, many flights have been fully booked while fares remain high.

Travelers who delay their return to May 4 or 5 can save 20-30 percent of flying costs and enjoy greater flexibility in choosing flight times.

Thanh Huyen, a resident of Binh Thanh Ward in Ho Chi Minh City, shared that her family of four chose to fly to Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam on April 28 instead of April 29.

“We saved nearly VND3 million ($114) on airfares alone. The airport was also less crowded, making it easier for my children,” she said.

Minh Tuan, 32, plans to return from Da Nang City, central Vietnam to Ho Chi Minh City on May 5 instead of May 3.

With the option to work remotely, his family will extend their holiday by two days.

“Each air ticket is about VND1 million ($38) cheaper, and we can avoid the rush on the return trip,” he noted.

This shift in travel patterns is also reflected in operations at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s busiest aviation hub.

During the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day break, and the Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day holiday, the airport handles an average of around 750 flights per day, an increase of roughly 12 percent compared to normal schedules.

On peak days such as April 29 and May 3, flight numbers may reach up to 770 per day, with passenger throughput hitting some 130,000 travelers daily.

However, traffic this year is more evenly distributed across several days before and after the holiday rather than concentrated on a few peak dates.

An airport official said that the challenge lies not only in handling extreme spikes but in sustaining high operational capacity over consecutive days.

Security screening, baggage handling, and passenger pick-up and drop-off areas are all under prolonged pressure.