Short-term tourism takes the throne
Four holidays are not too long, but they are enough for Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha (Hanoi) to carefully consider for a "just enough" trip. Instead of being excited about long journeys, she spends time looking for nearby, easy-to-travel destinations, prioritizing natural spaces to "change the wind" after a series of stressful working days.
I used to want to travel far, but the high airfares and not long enough vacations made my family hesitate. Instead, we chose a short trip, without needing to travel too long, just a slightly different atmosphere, with beautiful scenery to relax is enough," Ms. Ha said. With this plan, she chose Ninh Binh - a place that can combine resort, sightseeing and experience in a neat itinerary.
From booking rooms, choosing transportation to learning about experiential activities, everything is prepared in advance by her to avoid being passive during peak seasons. "Traveling for short days, I want to be more proactive, without having to spend time waiting or rearranging schedules," she shared.
Ms. Ha's story also reflects the common choices of many tourists when the "Micro-Holiday" trend - short trips of 2-3 days but carefully invested in experience - is gradually becoming a new priority.
According to data from Traveloka, demand for short trips during this year's holiday has increased by nearly 40%. Instead of long journeys, tourists tend to choose nearby destinations, easy to move around, but still ensure the resort and energy regeneration factors.
This trend is clearly shown when the search volume for short domestic routes increased by more than 40% compared to the same period. Routes such as Hanoi - Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City - Phu Quoc or Hanoi - Hue recorded outstanding growth, showing a strong shift to short, flexible routes.
Not only stopping at changing time, tourists' destination choices have also shifted. Places near urban areas, rich in natural elements and local experiences are becoming more attractive. Ninh Binh is a prominent destination with search volume nearly 3 times higher, while Nha Trang and Vung Tau recorded an increase of more than 40%.
Notably, despite the rise of short-day travel trends, international destinations in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia still maintain their attractiveness. The search for international air tickets and accommodation this time increased by about 30%, showing that Vietnamese tourists are still willing to travel abroad if the journey is convenient and time-optimized.
Smart" tourists shape new trends
Not only is there a change in destinations, but the way tourists plan their trips is also very different. The trend of early booking and package booking (combining air tickets, hotels, activities) is clearly increasing, helping to optimize costs and experiences.
Ms. Baidi Li - Vice President of Trade Traveloka commented: "Short trips are no longer alternatives but are becoming a priority choice. Tourists are becoming more proactive, planning early and aiming for more meaningful experiences.
Accordingly, the new generation of tourists is approaching tourism as a calculated decision, prioritizing convenience and synchronization when all services can be placed on the same platform.
Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu - General Director of Vitamin Tour & Events said: "To grasp the needs of tourists, we launch many domestic tourism products from packages to air ticket, hotel room, entertainment, resort tickets... Early booking tourists can comfortably enjoy their vacation at affordable prices, and design trips according to their preferences.
Reality shows that the shift to short journeys does not reduce tourism demand, but on the contrary, opens up a more flexible approach for tourists. When time is no longer a barrier, each trip is "sized" but invested more carefully in experience, from resorts, exploration to energy regeneration.
The "Micro-Holiday" trend is therefore not only a timely choice during holidays, but is gradually becoming a new habit of Vietnamese tourists. Instead of waiting for long trips, many people are willing to plan short but more regular trips, suitable for modern life.
