Da Lat, Phu Quoc, and Sa Pa emerge as the top three sought-after holiday destinations of Vietnamese travelers for the coming New Year season, according to data from online travel agency Booking.com.

The results were retrieved from search queries made on November 2-29 for trips on December 24-27 and December 30-January 3 by domestic Booking users.

As per a report from the tourism platform, Vietnamese consumers’ demand for travel during the 2021 New Year holiday will see a sharp year-on-year decline.

However, they still look to spend a fulfilling holiday with their family.

Among the destinations that Vietnamese travelers looked up on Booking.com, highland areas and natural surroundings are taking a visible lead.

A shift in tourism penchant of domestic travelers is also noticed: the mass is deviating from urban tours for nature getaways, as the latter constitute 44 percent while the former only take up 22 percent of all tourism inquiries.

The phenomenon can be observed from the absence of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Hanoi – Vietnam's three biggest urban tourism hubs – from the most-searched destinations for this New Year holiday season.

Meanwhile, Da Lat and Sa Pa – two renowned highland areas in Vietnam – were revealed as the two most desirable destinations for travelers planning trips between December 30 and January 1.

Leisure activities in Da Lat also prove wildly popular, as 54 percent of the Vietnamese vacationers polled show an interest in treks through the city’s pine forests, couple bike tours, or trips on horse wagons throughout local flower fields and lakes.

Sa Pa draws in tourists with its grandeur of mountains and the challenging treks to Mount Fansipan – the highest peak in Vietnam.

Beach breaks are also a popular type of getaway for Vietnamese customers, with 42 percent searching for coastal destinations at least once.

Standing out from the tourist draws is Phu Quoc Island off southern Vietnam, which is ranked the second-most popular beach of the season with 71 percent of users interested.

Customers are seeking less crowded destinations and wanting to discover off-the-beaten-path locations.

Fifty-four percent said they prefer alternative choices over trips in high seasons, while 42 percent shied away from packed public areas and 61 percent abandoned overcrowded tourist destinations.

Instead, they are turning to more obscure beaches to enjoy a sense of safety for the New Year celebration.

Pastoral areas are appealing to Vietnamese travelers, aggregating 63 percent of interest from the surveyed crowd.

Outdoor activities are seen as a major perk of these areas, out of which Cam Pha, Bac Yen, and Mu Cang Chai in the north and Buk So in the Central Highlands reigned as the most popular destinations.

In Ho Chi Minh City, countdown parties and feasts at five-star hotels were revealed to be the most popular functions during the holiday season.

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