The number of Vietnamese tourists traveling abroad increased sharply during the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1) holiday this year despite higher prices for outbound tours against the pre-pandemic period.

Most large travel firms in Ho Chi Minh City, such as Saigontourist, Vietravel, Fiditour - Vietluxtour, TST tourist, and Lua Viet Travel, reopened tours to the Maldives, Dubai, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, and the U.S. during the holiday, which lasts from Saturday to Tuesday, and reported fast growth in the number of customers.

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, director of marketing and communications at Saigontourist, said during the Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day vacation this year, Vietnamese tourists preferred traveling to the U.S., Dubai, Turkey, Singapore, and Cambodia.

Saigontourist held a four-day tour for 220 guests flying from Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore on April 30.

The number of tourists to Cambodia, Dubai, Turkey, and the U.S. was on the rise as well. 

After tours to destinations in Southeast Asia, Vietravel introduced an eight-day tour to Mongolia with direct flights scheduled to depart later this month.

The tour costs each tourist VND55 million ($2,381).

A Vietravel representative said tourists could travel abroad during the holiday this year as the coronavirus has been kept at bay thanks to high vaccination coverage rates and natural immunity.

They preferred safe destinations with less requirements and competitive prices.

Although the demand for outbound tours during the holiday was not as high as that in the pre-pandemic period, it increased significantly, according to Fiditour - Vietluxtour. 

At present, the prices of outbound tours remain high compared with the rates before the COVID-19 outbreak.

As a case in point, tours to Thailand are priced at VND14-17 million ($608-738) per tourist. The price spikes to VND20 million ($867) if travelers stay at four-star hotels.

Previously, travel companies normally offered tours to Thailand at VND8-10 million ($349-436) per guest.

Meanwhile, four-day-three-night tours to Singapore will cost each tourist at least VND16 million ($693).

Nicky Huong Nguyen, assistant manager at Singapore’s TimesWorld Travel & Educational Tours Pte Ltd, said Vietnamese visitors to Singapore should prepare for the hike in goods and service prices there.

After being hit by COVID-19 over the past two years, restaurants in Singapore have started to charge customers more.

“Some people may be surprised at the new prices so it is advisable to get more information and prepare funds,” Huong Nguyen added. 

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!