Vietnam among top five most-wanted destinations for Tet

Vietnam has made it onto the list of the top five most-booked markets for travelers around Asia Pacific looking for a getaway over the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, said travel giant Agoda.

According to data released by Agoda, visitors from around Asia are turning to the fast-growing nation, drawn in by its stunning scenery, warm culture and renowned cuisine.

Joining Vietnam on the top five list for regional destinations are Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

When it comes to inbound travelers to Vietnam during one of the region's largest holiday breaks, Koreans lead the way, ahead of visitors from mainland China, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan, all ensuring a busy Tet season for Vietnam's travel industry.

Agoda said the top destinations within Vietnam over Tet will be Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Nha Trang, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc.

Vietnamese visitors are also packing their bags for their annual break - with Da Lat proving to be this year's top domestic destination.

The hilltop retreat claimed top honors, ahead of seaside locales Nha Trang, Danang and Phan Thiet.

HCMC rounded out the top five, placing fourth in terms of bookings across the period.

Increasingly, local travelers have been opting to travel beyond their borders over Tet, with this year's data showing travelers opting for big cities, with Bangkok, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo and Bali filling out the top five destinations for locals who are getting their passports out this year.

Lam Vu, country director at Agoda Vietnam, said: "Tet is a time of renewal and celebration, and we see this reflected in the travel choices of our customers. The diversity of preferred destinations speaks to the rich tapestry of experiences sought by travelers during this festive season."

According to Booking.com’s Travel Predictions 2024 research, travelers are seeking cooler destinations to escape the heat, with 82% of Vietnamese travelers citing an interest in water-centric vacations this year.

This is reflected in the top 10 most searched destinations by Vietnamese travelers for domestic travel, where six out of the 10 destinations include beach destinations like Nha Trang, Đanang, Vung Tau, Phu Quoc, Mui Ne and Hoi An.

Besides beaches, bustling cities like HCMC and Hanoi with street vendors selling numerous traditional Tet delicacies, the ancient city of Hoi An adorned with thousands of lanterns, and the mountainous terrain of Sa Pa with awe-inspiring rice terraces, are also destinations Vietnamese travelers are exploring this Tet, the company said.

A report from tourism ticket selling platform Klook showed Vietnamese travelers are Asia Pacific (APAC) torchbearers as travel enthusiasts in 2024, as over 90% have already booked trips from now until the latter half of the year.

However, bucking the trend of rigid itineraries, Vietnamese are the most spontaneous travelers in APAC as up to half of them book travel experiences after they land or in-destination.

With the strongest preference for uniqueness of travel experiences in a destination, about 64%, while also being the most likely to try something new based on travel recommendations (38%) among the travelers in APAC, Vietnamese are also the most fear of missing out (FOMO)-fuelled explorers in the region.

Nature and outdoor activities, theme parks and cultural experiences are among the top ways Vietnamese travelers aim to fully enjoy their vacations, Klook said.

The survey by Klook revealed that in 2024, millennials and Gen Z will break away from pandemic habits of me-time and solitary routines of self-care, and will actively choose to venture back on the road to connect and discover with their loved ones.

Nine out of 10 APAC travelers want to pursue trips with others, be it family, partners, or close friends. When it comes to who to share these experiences with, 30% of travelers opt for their partners, and 26% look for family-oriented adventures.

Across APAC, Vietnam reigns supreme as family travellers, with nearly three in five travelers prioritising bonding with loved ones.

APAC travelers are ready to increase their budgets to get the most out of travel in 2024, with three in five ready to spend at least 30% to 50% more on their holidays, a significant rise given an estimated average travel spending of $2,000 in 2023.

This willingness to spend is directed towards experiences that promise meaningful and impactful connections, where they are ready to invest up to half their travel budget on activities and experiences despite rising costs due to global inflation.

Vietnamese travelers even invest more on experiences with 17% willing to allocate over half their travel budget on experiences, which is one of the highest figures in APAC.