Domestic air fares rise ahead of national holiday travel rush

Despite Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labor Day on May being a month away, local airlines are already hiking up prices for flights during the holidays amid soaring demand for travel.

Domestic airports are busy again in recent days

In line with the increased interest for travel, a one-way ticket from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the southern island of Phu Quoc costs between VND1 million to VND3.2 million, equivalent to between US$44 and US$140, excluding tax.

Furthermore, a one-way ticket price for flights from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang  hovers between VND1.4 million and VND2.4 million, equal to between US$61 and US$105, including tax. After the holiday, airfares are expected to see a decline of roughly VND700,000 to VN 1.1 million, equivalent to between US$31 and US$48.

Several agencies reported that package tours to Da Nang and Phu Quoc continue to be in high demand during the holidays, with ticket prices two to three times higher compared to normal days.

Rising ticket prices therefore represent a sign that domestic tourism is in the process of recovering from the COVID-19 slump that marred the travel industry over the past year.

The initial two months of this year saw the number of domestic visitors reach approximately 17.6 million, meaning total revenue rose by 300% to over VND41 trillion, equal to US$1.8 billion.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV),  Vietnam is expected to welcome up to 43 million visitors this year, including eight million foreign arrivals, reaching 50% compared to 2019.

VOV