Before having official information about the 4-day New Year's holiday, many tourists proactively asked for a holiday on January 2, 2026 (March 6) to extend the holiday to the weekend, thereby spending all this time to design their travel and experiences.
Ms. Tran Thi Huong Lan (32 years old, Hanoi) decided to spend the New Year holiday this year to go to Da Lat. Not because this is a new destination, but because the whole family wants to enjoy the cool air and peaceful scenery.
"The last few months of the year are busy with work, causing me constant stress, taking advantage of this vacation to take my family out to relax. By Lunar New Year, my whole family will return to our hometown to celebrate Tet, Ms. Thao shared.
She also said that airfares and travel expenses this year have increased during peak season, but she is still willing to spend money to make the whole family have a memorable vacation.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tu's family (30 years old, Hung Yen) chose to go to Ha Giang (Tuyen Quang) by private car to proactively move and save costs.
Anh Tu said: "The 4-day holiday is close to the schedule, so my family designed a trip to explore the northern provinces for about 2-3 days. Ha Giang is in the blooming cherry blossom season, so everyone is eager to visit and take photos."
According to Vietravel, the number of visitors registering for tours for this year's New Year's holiday has increased sharply since mid-November and entered the vibrant tour closing period in December. Notably, 3-5 day tours, both domestically and internationally, are booked earlier than in previous years.
Vietravel is estimated to serve about 130,000 visitors this time. "Although the holiday is not long, booking tours close to the date is still quite popular, showing that current customers are both proactive in planning early and ready to book near the departure date if there are attractive incentives," the business representative shared.
According to Mr. Bui Thanh Tu - Marketing Director of BestPrice travel company, initially, the 2026 New Year holiday schedule only had one day. Therefore, many tourists mainly buy "fast-go - short-haul" packages.
However, many tourists proactively extend their 4-day holiday by asking for leave, even before finalizing the exchange of working days to extend the 2026 New Year holiday.
He said: "We prioritize three product groups suitable for short holidays: stay in the inner city for 1-2 nights in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang combined with hotel - food - spa; 2-day, 1-night, or 3-day, 2-night, short-haul, low-travel resort combo; and overnight experience such as Ha Long one-night cruise for family or couple".
The most chosen destinations include: Phu Quoc, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, Hoi An and Sa Pa. Direct flights, good weather, many resort options are often " spacious" for weekends, especially in the 4-5 star segment.
Regarding hot products for this year's New Year's Eve, Mr. Tu informed: "The special product group for New Year's Eve includes a one-night Ha Long cruise combo, a 5-star staycation combining cuisine and spa, and a Free & Easy combo to help customers plan their schedules, especially suitable for families".
The price level increased by 30-50% compared to normal days, mainly due to weekend rooms and operating costs during peak season.
airfares during the New Year have increased locally, but not as much as during the Lunar New Year. For the Lunar New Year 2026, we have prepared the supply early, recommending that customers book 1-2 months in advance to proactively plan their schedules, said Mr. Tu.
With the current momentum, Mr. Tu predicts that the number of tourists during the Lunar New Year will explode, creating a boost for the 2026 tourism year.
According to Booking.com, domestic tourism continues to play a leading role in the year-end holiday plans of Vietnamese tourists, as familiar destinations still dominate thanks to their convenience, closeness and vibrant festive atmosphere.
Data searched for the holiday from December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026 shows that Phu Quoc leads the list of domestic destinations most interested in Vietnamese tourists, with an increase of 86% over the same period last year.
Followed by Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi - large cities with many festival activities, cultural and entertainment events at the end of the year.
Coastal cities such as Da Nang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Mui Ne continue to be popular choices for vacation needs, while Hoi An and Sa Pa attract tourists who love to experience indigenous culture and a unique festive atmosphere.
In addition to domestic tourism, short-term international trips are also increasingly popular with Vietnamese tourists. Nearly 30% plan to take a 1-4 night holiday abroad, and 29% consider a 5-7 night holiday in 2025.
Bangkok, Tokyo and Seoul are the most searched international destinations during the holiday season, while Sydney and Paris stand out in the long-term journey group, with Paris recording a search growth of more than 51% over the same period.
