This year’s Reunification Day and Labor Day holiday (April 30–May 1) is longer than usual, driving airfare spikes to many popular tourist destinations.

However, not only are routes to hotspots like Phu Quoc and Nha Trang seeing soaring prices - flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are also unexpectedly expensive despite not being considered major holiday getaways.

According to a VietNamNet survey on April 2, airfares for the holiday period are rising rapidly each day, especially for routes departing from major hubs like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to popular destinations across the country.

Yet it’s not just flights to Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Lat, or Quy Nhon that are heating up. The Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route, typically a business and daily commuter flight, has seen a significant price jump for this year’s holiday.

Ticketing platforms show that from April 29–30 through May 4, round-trip tickets (including taxes and fees) on the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route are priced from about VND 6 million (approximately USD 240) on Vietjet Air or Bamboo Airways, over VND 7 million (USD 280) with Vietravel Airlines, and up to more than VND 7.5 million (USD 300) on Vietnam Airlines in economy class.

Notably, the over-VND 7.5 million fare is Vietnam Airlines’ lowest price during this period - applied to all flight times, whether morning or evening.

These rates represent an increase of more than 40% compared to average prices observed earlier in April, when fares typically ranged between VND 4–4.5 million (USD 160–180).

Typically, during national holidays like April 30–May 1, airfare spikes are more common on routes from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to resort cities such as Phu Quoc, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Quy Nhon, or Da Lat, while the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh route also sees an increase - but not usually as steep as this year.

According to a travel agency specializing in tours and airline tickets, this year’s spike is partly due to the 50th anniversary of national reunification being held in Ho Chi Minh City, featuring a military parade and fireworks on April 30–May 1. This has increased demand for flights to the southern metropolis, driving fares higher than in previous years.

To accommodate this surge, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam reported that domestic airlines will operate 5,083 flights to and from Ho Chi Minh City from April 25 to May 5 - an average of 462 flights per day - representing a 21% increase in both directions.

Specifically, for the Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City route, airlines are scheduled to operate 1,261 flights, marking an 8% increase in departures and 16% increase in arrivals, offering 305,000 seats - up 7% and 11% compared to the pre-expanded schedule and the same period in 2024.

Nationwide, for the April 30–May 1 holiday period, Vietnamese airlines plan to operate 7,536 domestic flights (averaging 685 per day), up 24% in flight volume and 20% in seat capacity, offering around 1.5 million seats - 22% more than the same time last year.

Meanwhile, airfares to other top domestic tourist destinations are still climbing fast and selling out quickly.

As of April 29–May 4, travelers flying from Hanoi to Phu Quoc will need to pay nearly VND 8.36 million (about USD 335) for a round trip. Even securing a seat is tough, with only one return flight available on May 4 (a morning flight on Vietjet Air).

On the Hanoi–Nha Trang route, ticket prices range around VND 7.1 million (USD 285) with Vietjet Air and up to VND 8.45 million (USD 338) with Vietnam Airlines - on par with Phu Quoc fares.

To fly from Hanoi to Quy Nhon, travelers must pay over VND 6 million (USD 240); to Tuy Hoa, tickets cost about VND 7.65 million (USD 306), with Vietnam Airlines as the sole operator.

However, flights from Ho Chi Minh City to these destinations are more reasonably priced. For instance, the Ho Chi Minh City–Phu Quoc route offers round-trip fares between VND 3.7–3.9 million (USD 148–156) on Vietjet Air and Vietnam Airlines.

The Ho Chi Minh City–Da Nang route has fares ranging from VND 3.6 million (USD 144) to over VND 5 million (USD 200).

Ngoc Ha