Vietnam Holiday Flights Are Now Priced Like Tet — But Seats Are Still Available

Airfares in Vietnam for the upcoming April 30 and May 1 holiday are climbing to levels typically seen during Tet, the country’s peak travel season.

However, in a twist that may surprise travelers, many flights still have available seats, especially on major routes.

Prices Hit Peak Season Levels

Data from Vietnam’s aviation authority shows that ticket prices on key domestic routes have surged, matching Tet 2026 levels and rising around 8 to 10 percent compared to the same period last year.

On the busiest route between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City:

• Economy fares range from about VND 3.6 million to VND 4.2 million one way
• Vietnam Airlines and Bamboo Airways sit at the top end
• Vietjet Air and Vietravel Airlines offer slightly lower prices, but not by a wide margin

Other major routes are seeing similar increases:

• Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang ranges from roughly VND 1.8 million to VND 3.2 million
• Hanoi to Da Nang ranges from about VND 2.1 million to VND 3.8 million
• Hanoi to Phu Quoc can reach up to VND 4.8 million one way

Return flights toward the end of the holiday are even more constrained, with some routes already selling out in economy class.

Demand Is Uneven, Not Overwhelming

Despite high prices, booking patterns this year are more evenly distributed across the holiday period.

This is largely because two public holidays fall close together, giving travelers more flexibility in choosing when to fly.

As a result:

• Early holiday flights still show relatively low occupancy in many cases
• Some major trunk routes are only 20 to 40 percent full
• Travelers still have options in terms of departure times and airlines

This contrasts with the usual pattern where flights are fully booked early and prices spike due to scarcity.

Where Flights Are Actually Full

The highest demand is concentrated on specific leisure routes rather than across the entire network.

Flights with load factors above 90 percent include:

• Ho Chi Minh City to Tuy Hoa and Con Dao
• Hanoi to Tuy Hoa, Chu Lai, and Dong Hoi

Phu Quoc also stands out as a high demand destination, particularly for return flights later in the holiday.

Meanwhile, major city to city routes still have significant spare capacity, which helps explain why availability remains relatively flexible despite elevated prices.

Why Prices Are Still High

Several factors are pushing fares upward even without full capacity:

• Peak season pricing strategies aligned with holiday demand
• Strong interest in leisure destinations
• Operational constraints and fleet allocation
• Airlines optimizing revenue rather than maximizing load factors

In short, prices are being driven more by expected demand and timing than by actual seat shortages.

What Travelers Should Do

For those planning last minute travel:

• Consider flying earlier or later within the holiday window
• Look at less popular routes or nearby destinations
• Compare airlines carefully as price differences still exist
• Book return flights as early as possible, as these are filling faster

Bottom Line

Vietnam’s holiday airfares may look like peak season, but the market is not fully sold out.

For travelers, this creates a mixed picture. Prices are high, yet flexibility still exists if you are willing to adjust timing or destination.