Vietnam Insider

During the first half of August, the average airfare offered by airlines fluctuated between 35-65% of the maximum regulated fare.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority, airfares in early August are lower than regulated. Photo: Duy Hieu.

According to a survey by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) on July 31, base economy class airfares (excluding taxes and fees) on major domestic routes are currently at low levels.

Specifically, on the “golden route” from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, the highest fare offered by Vietnam Airlines is around VND 2.2 million per one-way trip, equivalent to 65% of the maximum regulated fare of VND 3.4 million.

On other days and at different departure times, ticket prices are significantly lower. The lowest fares, offered by Vietravel Airlines, are around VND 750,000 per one-way trip, which is about 26% of the maximum fare.

Another major North-South route, Hanoi to Da Nang, also sees high-frequency operations by domestic airlines. According to the CAAV survey, the highest fares on dates close to the survey (August 1 and 2) offered by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air are around VND 1.6 million per one-way trip, which is approximately 56% of the maximum fare.

For departures scheduled further in advance, fares drop significantly across all airlines, with some dates offering fares around 25% of the maximum. Notably, Vietravel Airlines offers fares as low as VND 300,000 per one-way trip, equivalent to 12% of the maximum fare.

Another domestic route that garners significant interest during the summer and tourism season is the Hanoi to Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) route. The highest fare on this route, recorded on the weekend of August 3, was nearly VND 2.5 million per one-way trip (72% of the maximum fare), offered by Vietnam Airlines during the 9 AM to 5 PM time slot.

For this route, Vietjet Air is offering the lowest average fares during many of the survey period’s travel days, with prices starting at 25% of the maximum fare.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi to Da Lat route maintains stable prices throughout most of the survey period.

For the nearest departure date (August 2), Vietnam Airlines offered fares around VND 2.9 million during daytime hours, equivalent to 80% of the maximum fare. On other days throughout the period, fares fluctuated between 30-40% of the maximum.

Vietjet Air’s fares during this period were significantly lower than the maximum fare, ranging from VND 800,000 to VND 1.1 million, or 24-30%. Bamboo Airways also operates on this route, with fares ranging from 25-50% of the maximum fare.

The longest domestic tourism route in Vietnam, Hanoi to Phu Quoc, is currently operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air. The maximum regulated fare for this route is VND 4 million.

According to the CAAV’s findings, Vietnam Airlines’ highest fare is VND 3.05 million, equivalent to 76% of the maximum fare (for a morning departure on August 8). For other travel dates within this period, both Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are offering fares at 30-50% of the maximum.

For early morning or late evening departures on dates further out, Vietnam Airlines has fares starting at 27% of the maximum (on August 13-14), and Vietjet Air offers fares starting at 20% of the maximum (from August 6-15).

Overall, when comparing fares with the time of day, daytime flights, especially between 9 AM and 12 PM, tend to have higher average fares than other time slots (early morning or late afternoon).

However, the CAAV notes that certain localities like Ho Chi Minh City and travel agencies have launched programs that provide accommodation support for passengers choosing to fly during late-night hours. This not only offers passengers more options and helps reduce travel costs, but also alleviates daytime transport pressure for airlines.

“Based on the analysis of survey data on economy class airfares on domestic routes from August 1-15, it can be seen that airlines are still offering tickets at relatively low prices compared to the maximum regulated fare,” the CAAV confirmed.

@Znews

At a conference on August 7th, Dong Nai Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Hong Linh urged local authorities and departments to focus on harnessing the potential and advantages of Long Thanh Airport to boost the province’s tourism industry.

Dong Nai plans to exploit the advantages of Long Thanh airport to develop tourism. Photo: TL

According to the plan, the first phase of the Long Thanh International Airport project is expected to accommodate approximately 70,000 passengers per day, and this number could quadruple in the second phase. This presents a significant advantage, and the province needs to prepare its infrastructure, tourism products, and projects to seize this opportunity.

To make Dong Nai an attractive destination, Mr. Hong Linh directed the development of five new tourism routes that maximize the advantages of Long Thanh Airport. Specifically, diverse tourism routes will be established from Long Thanh Airport to connect with local areas such as Bien Hoa, Vinh Cuu, Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Ho Tram, and various ecological zones within Dong Nai.

Regarding specific tourism products, the Provincial Party Secretary proposed organizing a hot air balloon festival, a pottery festival combined with a brass band festival during the upcoming April 30th holiday next year.

According to the Provincial People’s Committee, the modern highway and ring road systems that have been or are being constructed provide a competitive advantage for Dong Nai in attracting tourists and connecting the province’s transportation network to various tourist spots.

Currently, Dong Nai is implementing several key tourism projects such as the Thac Mai – Bau Nuoc Soi project, the Nui Chua Chan ecological tourism complex, and the Nui Le Lake project. The Dong Nai leadership has stated that the province will focus on developing eco-tourism, rural tourism, and culinary tourism.

In the past seven months, Dong Nai’s tourism sector welcomed over 2.1 million visitors, a 17.8% increase, with revenue reaching VND 1.385 trillion, up 29.1% compared to the same period in 2023.

@SGtiepthi

A survey by Booking.com reveals that Vietnamese travelers typically prioritize booking flights, train tickets, and travel insurance before securing accommodations.

Vietnamese tourists’ travel plans are quite detailed but still flexible. Photo: CAAV.

A survey by Booking.com reveals that Vietnamese travelers typically prioritize booking flights, train tickets, and travel insurance before securing accommodations.

Booking.com’s recent report provides insights into the mindset and behavior of Vietnamese tourists when planning their trips.

The survey, conducted with 800 Vietnamese participants, shows that travelers plan their trips with clear goals, prioritizing the booking of crucial elements like flights and travel insurance, while also leaving some time for spontaneous activities during their journey.

While 35% of respondents indicated that they prefer to book flights and accommodations simultaneously, 52% prioritize booking flights first to avoid limited options or rising ticket prices. Only 12% book flights after confirming their accommodations.

About half of the survey participants said they would prioritize booking flights, train tickets, and travel insurance before securing accommodations. This approach ensures a smooth and comfortable trip, avoiding the stress of last-minute seat reservations.

Similarly, 50% of travelers in the survey said they would book event tickets before deciding on accommodations. This proactive approach ensures that they can participate in the activities or events they want, while also demonstrating thorough planning throughout the trip.

Some Vietnamese travelers even plan their meals ahead of time, though many wait until the trip begins, or even until they arrive at their destination, to choose restaurants or eateries. According to Booking.com, not planning meals in advance allows travelers to be flexible and freely explore hidden culinary gems and local specialties during their trip.

37% of travelers choose taxis as their primary mode of transportation throughout their trip, indicating that this remains the most flexible option for travel. This statistic also highlights that convenience and ease of calling a taxi are key considerations.

Overall, Booking.com notes that the travel planning trend among Vietnamese travelers reflects a balance between pre-booking and flexibility. This approach emphasizes their desire for a safe and comfortable trip, while allowing for freedom in exploration.

“Vietnamese travelers prepare thoroughly for their trips but remain highly flexible,” said Varun Grover, Country Director of Booking.com in Vietnam.

@Znews

It is expected that on August 9, the elevated section of the Nhon – Hanoi Station metro line will commence commercial operations. Passengers will enjoy free rides for the first 15 days of service.

It is expected that on August 9, the elevated section of the Nhon – Hanoi Station metro line will commence commercial operations. Illustrative photo: Trong Tung.

According to the technical design of this metro line, each train consists of 4 cars and can carry up to 944 passengers per trip. The leadership of Hanoi Metro One Member Limited Liability Company (HMC) plans to operate 4-6 trains, with a peak hour interval of 6 minutes per trip. This means the line can transport a maximum of 9,440 passengers per hour in each direction.

The standard monthly fare is 200,000 VND. Students and industrial zone employees will receive a 50% discount. Additionally, group purchases of 30 tickets or more will cost 140,000 VND per ticket. A daily ticket is priced at 24,000 VND, allowing unlimited travel on the entire line for the day. Single-ride tickets range from 8,000 to 12,000 VND.

Passengers purchasing single-ride tickets will receive a round-shaped ticket. To enter the station, passengers must scan the ticket to open the gate and insert it into the exit gate machine at their destination station. Purchased tickets are valid for 20 minutes, and if passengers do not board the train within that time, they must update the ticket at the ticket counter.

The plan for passenger transfer via bus has also been completed by the Hanoi Public Transport Management and Operation Center. There are 36 bus routes operating along the metro line.

The two transfer points (Cau Giay and Nhon) have 32 bus stops (16 with shelters). Currently, 8 stations connect to the nearest bus stop within a distance of 0-50 meters.

@Thesaigontimes

The Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) will increase the number of trains on various routes during the National Day holiday on September 2 and will implement discount policies.

The Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) will run additional trains from Saigon to Nha Trang and Quy Nhon and vice versa during the National Day holiday on September 2. Illustrative photo: Le Anh.

On the North-South railway route, the trains SE1/SE2, SE3/SE4, SE5/SE6, SE7/SE8, SE11/SE12 (Saigon – Hanoi), SE21/SE22 (Saigon – Da Nang), SNT1/SNT2 (Saigon – Nha Trang), SPT1/SPT2 (Saigon – Phan Thiet), SE19/SE20 (Hanoi – Da Nang), HĐ1/HĐ2, HĐ3/HĐ4 (Hue – Da Nang), and NA1/NA2 (Hanoi – Vinh) will operate daily.

Additionally, VNR will run extra trains from Saigon to Nha Trang, Quy Nhon, and vice versa, from Nha Trang to Da Nang and vice versa, and from Hanoi to Quang Binh and vice versa.

Specifically, on the Ho Chi Minh City – Quy Nhon route, VNR will operate the SE30 train from Saigon to Quy Nhon from August 29 to September 2, 2024; and the SE29 train from Quy Nhon to Saigon from August 30 to September 3, 2024.

For the Ho Chi Minh City – Nha Trang route, VNR will run the SNT4 train from Saigon to Nha Trang on August 29 and 30; and the SNT8 train on August 30. From Nha Trang to Saigon, the SNT5 train will run on September 2 and 3, 2024.

On the Nha Trang – Da Nang route, the SE42 train from Nha Trang to Da Nang will run from August 30 to September 1, 2024; and the SE41 train from Da Nang to Nha Trang will run from August 31 to September 2, 2024.

For the Hanoi – Dong Hoi route, the QB1 and SE17 trains will depart from Hanoi on August 30; and the QB2 train will depart from Dong Hoi on September 2 and 3, 2024.

In the northern region, the Hanoi – Lao Cai route will have additional SP7 trains departing from Hanoi on August 30; and the SP8 train departing from Lao Cai on August 31. For the Hanoi – Hai Phong route, VNR will run additional LP9 and HP3 trains departing from Hanoi; additional LP10 and HP4 trains departing from Hanoi; and the HD2 train departing from Hai Duong.

During the upcoming National Day holiday on September 2, the railway sector will continue to apply regular discount policies for social policy beneficiaries such as Vietnamese heroic mothers, war veterans, people with disabilities, the elderly, children, and students. Additionally, when purchasing round-trip tickets, passengers will receive a 5% discount on the return leg for individuals and a 7% discount for groups of 20 or more.

@Thesaigontimes

The top 100 best dishes in Vietnam have recently been announced by the culinary website Taste Atlas, with Quang noodles topping the list.

Taste Atlas, known as the “world food atlas,” has released a list of the 100 best dishes in Vietnam for international diners to experience. Quang noodles hold the number one position in this list.

According to Taste Atlas, Quang noodles are a signature dish closely associated with the people of Quang Nam. Quang noodles are the dish that comes to mind when tourists visit Quang Nam – Da Nang. This dish combines soft, long noodles with a rich meat broth and various aromatic herbs.

The dish contributes to creating the brand of Quang Nam. Photo: Contributor

Diners can choose to have Quang noodles with shrimp, chicken, pork belly, shrimp, eggs, etc. Additionally, peanuts and rice crackers are often added to enhance the dish’s flavor.

Taste Atlas notes that Quang noodles originate from Central Vietnam, contributing to the Quang region’s culinary brand and being a favorite among tourists.

Besides Quang noodles, many other dishes have made it into the top 100 best dishes in Vietnam according to Taste Atlas, such as banh mi thit, bun bo Nam Bo, pho bo, and bun bo Hue.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, Taste Atlas is known as a map compiling traditional dishes from around the world.

According to Matija Babić, the founder of Taste Atlas, the rankings of dishes and drinks are based on opinions and evaluations from experts and culinary critics to ensure the reliability of the awards.

@Vietnamnet