Hanoi (VNA)🍨 – During the National Day holidays from August 31 to September 3, Vietnam’s tourism sector served about 3 million visitors, 20% higher than the figure in the same period last year, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

The average accommodation occupation rate reached 56%, an increase of 1.85% compared to the same period last year. Particularly, on September 1 and 2, the rate reached over 60%. During the period, the number of foreign visitors to key tourist destinations increased. They are mostly from the Republic of Korea (RoK), China, Taiwan (China), India, Europe and the US with their average stay of 4-5 nights. Localities that were most chosen by foreign tourists including Da Nang (91,000 visitors, up 15.3% year-on-year), Hanoi (over 58,900 visitors, up 35.8%), Khanh Hoa (48,000 visitors) and Ho Chi Minh City (38,800 visitors, up 3.2%). Notably, the number of foreign visitors to the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and the northern province of Lao Cai increased sharply by 45-54% year-on-year. According to VNAT, localities nationwide diversified tourism products to meet visitors' demand. For examples, street dance in Moc Chau district in the northern mountainous province of Son La, "Sparkling colours of Than Uyen" in Lai Chau province; "Happy Independence Day" highland market at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi, an art programme "Shape of the country" and Son Tra festival in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. At Ba Den mountain in the southern province of Tay Ninh, visitors could enjoy watching cloud, Chhay dam drum dances, musical shows and especially the flag-raising ceremony held on the top of the mountain. In major cities, there were various new tourism products. In the central city of Da Nang, visitors enjoyed cruising on the Han River, cyclo tours to explore the beauty of the city at night; and paragliding to see Da Nang from above. In Ho Chi Minh City, a double-decker bus service to visit the city has been added while the Sky Garden commercial and culinary street has been opened. At the Bo Cap Vang tourist area in the southern province of Dong Nai, artificial waterfall Bliss Waterfall has been launched while an art tourism map (Dalat Art Map) was launched in the resort city of Da Lat in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong on this occasion. During the four-day holidays, more than 4,250 flights were operated, marking an average of 840 flights per day, and an increase of 3.5% over the same period in 2023. Meanwhile, about 130,000 passenger trains ran across the country, an increase of about 10% over the same period in 2023. According to VNAT, this year’s National Day holidays witnessed many tourism positive results in localities. Domestic tourism continued to grow strongly, and international tourism is gradually regaining momentum. These are positive signs of growth for the tourism industry in the fourth quarter of 2024./.