HCM City dwellers book summer tours

HCM City residents are spending more money this year on summer vacations as the economy begins to rebound. Both domestic and outbound tour programmes have been fully booked for the month, and some agencies are finding it difficult to accommodate the influx of requests.
Travel agencies Lua Viet, Ben Thanh Tourist and Saigontourist have reported a surge of 40 per cent, 10 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively, in the number of guests compared to summer last year.
Viettravel said it had prepared for a projected increase of 20 per cent.
Some tourists have had to search for available tours, as bookings have filled up quickly.
"My family is eager to take part in celebrations of Ha Noi’s 1,000th anniversary," said District 3’s Le Minh Phuoc. "But all tours to the capital have been fully booked."
According to Ben Thanh Tourist, travellers are choosing beach programmes due to the hot weather and going to seaside towns like Vung Tau, Ninh Chu, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Phan Thiet and Nha Trang.
Most seaside programmes are fully booked.
"I decided to take my kids to Phu Quoc Island to enjoy untouched beautiful beaches and to escape the city’s sweltering temperature," said District 7’s Giang Ngoc Thanh, who booked services with Lua Viet Travel Agency.
In addition, more people are choosing tours to towns in the Central Highlands where there is moderate weather like Da Lat or Buon Me Thuot, and long tours to cities in the central region like Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Phong Nha and Quy Nhon.
Outbound trips have also thrived compared to the same period last year, with Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Australia and the US among the most popular destinations.
Thailand, which has been a favorite outbound destination for Vietnamese travellers, has lost much of its appeal in recent months due to political unrest.
Malaysia and Singapore have emerged to replace Thailand as favoured destinations, according to Tran Dang Minh Uyen, deputy director of Lua Viet Travel Agency.