Enjoy traditional Tet in a modern way
For the past 10 years, every Lunar New Year, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Trinh (49 years old, HCMC) often "collects" vacation days to extend her trip. The female tourist will go to two or three countries in a row for about 14 days.
As for the Lunar New Year of the Snake 2025, she chose to stay in Phu Quoc. Explaining this decision, she said: “My hometown is Quang Ngai but I work and live in Ho Chi Minh City. After a year of working away from home, when I have the opportunity to gather with my family, I just want to leisurely eat meals, sit and talk, and confide in other members. However, it seems that I have difficulty feeling that in my family. The questions I often receive during Tet are “When are you getting married?”, “How much is your salary?”, “How is the house?”... Moreover, there are years when I have a New Year's Eve dinner at home, and I often have to wash up to 10 trays of food.”
Tran Duy (39 years old, HCMC) has decided to drive his wife and 3 children on a trip from Cambodia to Laos, stopping in the Northwest and then across Vietnam during this year's Lunar New Year. The trip will start on January 20 and may last about 20 days.
12 years ago, when he was not married yet, he also “escaped” Tet to travel. Currently, Mr. Duy believes that “wherever the family is, there is Tet”. Moreover, the biggest motivation for him to make this trip is the wish that his eldest son will have more memories before entering first grade.
“The reason I took my family to Cambodia and Laos before returning to Vietnam was to explore interesting places in the neighboring country and avoid the crowds of people returning to their hometowns in the provinces and cities in the country. Going out during Tet, I will no longer have to participate in endless drinking parties or listen to karaoke,” the father of three shared.
According to Mr. Duy, tourists will “get” more by traveling during Tet. Specifically, it is easier to book rooms, cars and other services in general; they can stay longer than other holidays of the year. The costs are cheaper than before Tet and especially, the destinations are quieter, no need to jostle.
Balance between family culture and personal interests
Master Ho Thi Nhu Quynh - Lecturer in Tourism and Travel Services Management, Faculty of Economics - Business Administration, Phuong Dong University - commented that the trend of traveling during Tet is a good sign for the tourism industry.
“In big cities, the pressure from work and life is very stressful. During the year, parents are busy with work and their children’s school schedules are also dense. Therefore, the Lunar New Year will be given priority so that the family can have time to relax together without anyone having to worry about their schedule,” she told Lao Dong.
After COVID-19, tourism businesses, hotels, and restaurants are gradually recovering, continuously offering more unique and interesting products than before. The 2025 Lunar New Year holiday lasts 9 days, creating favorable conditions for tourists to participate in short and long-term tours.
Travel agencies estimate that the demand for travel during the Lunar New Year 2025 will increase by about 25% compared to the same period last year. This trend is especially evident in large cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, with the highest concentration in the segment of tourists traveling in groups of 2-3 generations.
Not only Mr. Tran Duy but also Mrs. Nhu Quynh agreed that if you plan to travel during Tet, you need to arrange time before Tet to go back to your hometown to visit your grandparents and parents as well as carry out other activities to prepare for Tet. Therefore, you can rest assured to travel and your family members will also be less sad when you are absent during the first holiday of the year.
However, before the trip, tourists need to carefully consider their finances. If you choose to travel abroad, Master Ho Thi Nhu Quynh advises you to book services early to avoid "price increases" whether you buy a tour or travel independently. If you travel domestically, you can choose the optimal option of driving your own family car to both save costs and be convenient according to your family's vacation plan.
