Vietnam National Day: International Air Passengers Outnumber Domestic

During Vietnam's National Day holiday period (August 29 to September 2), the domestic aviation market experienced a boom, with total passenger numbers reaching nearly 1.2 million, a 10.4% increase compared to the same period last year. Notably, international passengers accounted for 56% of the total, with over 670,000 travelers, surpassing domestic passengers by more than 143,000. This indicates a strong recovery in Vietnam's tourism sector and robust international travel demand. The first day of the holiday, August 29, was the busiest, with approximately 280,000 passengers passing through airports, a 21% increase year-on-year. While domestic passenger numbers saw a significant rise on the first day of the holiday, the total number of international passengers still exceeded them. At major gateways, international passenger growth was also prominent. Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi saw a total passenger increase of 23.5%, with international passengers up by 15%. Da Nang International Airport recorded a 16.8% increase, while Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City saw a 9.7% rise. The flow of international passengers to tourist destinations remained strong. Da Nang operated 312 international flights during the five-day holiday, and Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) handled 416 flights. The primary markets for these international routes included South Korea, Russia and CIS countries, China, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia. Looking at airlines, foreign carriers experienced a higher growth rate than Vietnamese airlines. During the holiday, foreign airlines transported over 417,000 passengers, a 16.4% increase year-on-year. Vietnamese airlines, on the other hand, transported nearly 781,000 passengers, with a growth rate of 7.4%. International passengers carried by Vietnamese airlines alone saw a modest 2% increase. This trend suggests that Vietnam's tourism industry heavily relies on the recovery of international travelers, and the expansion of international routes will be crucial for Vietnam's economic growth going forward. The Vietnamese government is expected to continue efforts to attract tourists through visa policy relaxations and investments in infrastructure development.