Entering the summer tourist season of 2026, domestic airfares on many routes recorded a strong upward trend compared to the low season, causing travel costs for many families to increase significantly.
Surveys on online ticket booking platforms show that domestic airfares in June and July remained high, especially on key tourist routes such as Hanoi - Da Nang, Hanoi - Nha Trang, Hanoi - Phu Quoc or Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City. Many routes recorded price increases of about 10 - 30% compared to the same period last year.
On the Hanoi - Da Nang route, the popular round-trip ticket price ranges from about 2.8 - 5.7 million VND/person depending on the airline, booking time and flight time frame. Weekend flights or departures close to normal days have significantly higher prices, sometimes up to 8 million VND/person.
Meanwhile, routes to resort destinations such as Nha Trang or Phu Quoc also record high prices in the summer. For routes departing from Hanoi, round-trip ticket prices at many times range from about 4 - 6 million VND/person, even up to more than 10 million VND/person if you choose a good flight time or book tickets close to the day. If flying from Ho Chi Minh City, tourists also have to spend from 2-5 million VND/person to get to these tourist destinations.
Flying back and forth between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the summer, the average round-trip price ranges from 4-4.5 million VND/person.
Increased airfares have affected the travel budgets of many families. For families of 4, round-trip tickets alone can cost from more than 10 million to nearly 20 million VND, excluding accommodation, meals and sightseeing expenses. Therefore, many tourists switch to choosing destinations near their homes or using trains and cars to save costs.
Not only are ticket prices increasing, but travel costs by air this summer are also affected by the adjustment of additional service prices by some airlines. From the end of May, Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways simultaneously increased the price of checked baggage on domestic routes.
Accordingly, Vietjet Air adjusted the price of 20kg baggage packages from 200,000 VND to 250,000 VND; 30kg packages from 300,000 VND to 360,000 VND; 40kg packages from 400,000 VND to 480,000 VND, excluding value-added tax. Some accompanying services such as oversized luggage or priority hand-carried luggage are also adjusted to increase in price.
Similarly, Bamboo Airways increased domestic baggage fees by about 15% during the summer peak. Some popular packages such as 10kg increased from 130,000 VND to 150,000 VND, and packages of 20kg increased from 260,000 VND to 300,000 VND.
Rising airfares are significantly affecting the travel decisions of many families this summer. Instead of choosing distant destinations that require air travel, many tourists are switching to short-day journeys in nearby areas or prioritizing locations that can be traveled by private car, passenger car and train.
Some travel businesses also recorded a trend of customers paying more attention to nearby tours, self-drive tours and intra-regional resort products to optimize costs in the context of airfares and aviation services increasing simultaneously.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - General Director of Vitamin Tours & Events commented: "When airfares increase, many tourists tend to choose nearby destinations and prioritize traveling by car or train. Short-day tourist routes in all three regions are recording a fairly good number of interested customers this summer.
Accordingly, in the North, Ninh Binh, Ha Long, Sa Pa, Moc Chau routes are of interest to many families. The Central region recorded good demand with Quy Nhon, Phu Yen, Mang Den. While in the South, destinations such as Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Da Lat and the Mekong Delta region continue to attract tourists thanks to convenient road travel.
Travel agencies, the demand for air travel often increases sharply during the summer vacation, especially in June and July - the time when students are off school. Therefore, tourists are recommended to book tickets early from 1 - 2 months to have more choices of prices and flight times, and at the same time limit cost incurred during peak periods.
