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| An international tourist staying at Muong Thanh Holiday Hue during the holiday period |
Sharp Rise in the Number of In-house Guests
At 8 a.m., after breakfast at the restaurant, many guests began gathering in the lobby of Parkview Hue Hotel to board buses and set off to explore tourist attractions across Hue during the April 30 - May 1 holiday. Meanwhile, newly arriving visitors inquired about room availability at the front desk. The steady flow of guests moving in and out of the hotel highlighted the strong surge in accommodation demand in Hue during this year’s holiday period.
Mr. Ho Dang Xuan Lan, Chairman of Hue City Hotel Association, General Director of Parkview Hue Hotel, informed that compared to last year’s April 30 - May 1 holiday period, the number of staying guests this year witnessed a sharp increase. Hotel occupancy rates have largely exceeded 95%, with many properties running at full capacity throughout the peak days. Notably, walk-in demand was on the rise, driven predominantly by independent travelers seeking accommodation on the spot.
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| Staff of Parkview Hue Hotel are enthusiastically serving guests |
At Alba Spa Hotel and Alba Hotel, room occupancy was fully booked, particularly on April 30 and May 1. Ms. Chau Thi Hoang Mai, Executive Director of Alba Spa Hotel and Alba Hotel, said that visitor numbers to Hue rose sharply this year. The close timing of the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day and the April 30 - May 1 holiday created a rare extended break, providing a clear boost to domestic tourism and significantly driving up hotel occupancy rates.
The surge in visitor numbers had been anticipated in advance, allowing accommodation providers to prepare early. According to Ms. Dang Thi Hoai Anh, Executive Director of Muong Thanh Holiday Hue Hotel, the average occupancy during the holiday period exceeded 95%. To meet service demand and maintain quality, the hotel not only arranged staff to work overtime but also recruited additional seasonal workers, particularly for housekeeping, front office, and food and beverage services. All were trained and briefed beforehand to ensure smooth operations.
Alongside workforce arrangements, accommodation providers also carried out proactive inspections of their infrastructure, focusing in particular on electrical systems, air conditioning, and fire prevention measures amid the intense heat. Food safety and service standards were prioritized to ensure a high-quality guest experience, thereby encouraging visitors to stay longer.
Mr. Vo Hoang Lien Minh, Head of Tourism Management Division under the Department of Tourism, said that during the 5-day holiday period of April 30 - May 1 (from April 29 to May 3), Hue was estimated to welcome about 610,000 tourist arrivals, up 73.3% year-on-year. In which the number of international tourists was estimated at 164,000 arrivals, witnessing an increase of 129% compared to the previous year. The average room occupancy across accommodation establishments was nearly at full capacity throughout the holiday period.
Amid localized room shortages, the tourism sector, together with hotel and travel agencies, set up coordination groups to allocate room availability and support visitors. As a result, many independent travelers were still able to pick up suitable accommodation, while properties with available rooms could quickly be filled up.
Ms. Thu Hien, a visitor from Hanoi, shared: “I traveled independently across several provinces and cities, so I didn’t book accommodation in advance. Thanks to support from the tourism authorities and travel agencies, I was able to find a place to stay that suited my needs. The service quality and staff were also very good”.
Creating Touchpoints, Enhancing Tourist Experiences
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| The space showcasing Hue cuisine prepared for hotel guests |
Beyond simply providing accommodation, many lodging establishments in Hue also focused on creating distinctive guest experiences during the holiday. Hotel spaces were adorned in the colors of the national flag, evoking the spirit of Reunification Day and offering emotionally resonant check-in spots.
According to Ms. Dang Thi Hoai Anh, depending on each holiday, the hotel will develop distinct decor concepts to help guests fully experience the festive atmosphere. From the lobby and guest rooms to the restaurant, every space will be carefully curated. Typically, during this year's holiday, even the dishes were subtly decorated with images of the red flag with a yellow star. They cared for every single detail to leave a lasting impression on visitors.
Another notable highlight this holiday season was the growing attention among hotels to enriching their breakfast buffets with a wider selection of Hue specialties, including dedicated “local cuisine corners”. This approach not only introduced guests to the city’s distinctive culinary heritage but also showcased the richness and diversity of Hue Ancient Capital’s cuisine as a tourism draw.
Mr. Ho Dang Xuan Lan, Chairman of the Hue Hotel Association and General Director of Parkview Hue Hotel, said that restaurant menus are adjusted periodically. The April 30 - May 1 holiday is considered the start of the domestic travel season, during which Hue dishes are particularly popular. At the same time, many visitors are keen to experience the cuisine of the destinations they visit, making the inclusion of local specialties in breakfast offerings an effective way to create touchpoints and enrich the overall guest experience.
In addition, several properties have organized dinner buffets and interactive entertainment activities, helping extend guests’ length of stay while further enhancing their experience.
Riding the wave of the peak summer travel season, the full occupancy of accommodation providers in Hue not only signals the destination’s strong appeal but also highlights the tourism sector’s readiness to adapt. Through service upgrades and improved coordination, Hue is steadily demonstrating its ability to handle large number of visitors while preserving its unique identity, an essential element in encouraging tourists to return.