Vietnam serves 14mn holiday travelers during Tet

Festive travel surged nationwide during the nine-day holiday from February 14 to 22, with major destinations including Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Lao Cai, and Tuyen Quang reporting double-digit growth in both visitor numbers and revenue.

Officials said favorable weather and the extended holiday were key drivers of the boom.

Ho Chi Minh City led the country in tourism revenue during the holiday, earning a record VND12.15 trillion (US$465.5 million).

The city welcomed more than 4.32 million visitors, up about 35 percent compared with the same period last year.

Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam, followed with 1.1 million visitors, half of them international, bringing in VND3.96 trillion ($152 million).

Ninh Binh Province, home to the UNESCO-listed Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in northern Vietnam, attracted more than 2.37 million visitors, including 378,000 international travelers.

Hotel occupancy averaged 85-90 percent, with many properties fully booked.

Bui Van Manh, director of Ninh Binh’s tourism department, said the province aims to become a leading cultural, ecological, and heritage tourism hub, balancing conservation with economic growth.

Hanoi recorded 1.34 million visitors, earning VND4.87 trillion ($187 million).

Quang Ninh Province, home to the UNESCO-listed world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam, saw triple-digit growth at spiritual sites such as Yen Tu and Cai Bau Pagoda.

Ha Long Bay itself welcomed 79,000 visitors, mostly international, contributing to VND3.172 trillion ($122 million) in revenue for the province.

Lao Cai Province, home to Sa Pa and other highland destinations in the north, generated VND1.667 trillion ($64 million).

Room occupancy exceeded 80 percent in key areas such as Sa Pa Ward, Bao Ha Commune, Lao Cai Ward, and Hanh Phuc Commune, driven by cultural events and festive activities.