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| Visitors to Hue |
Taking control of the journey
As the last long holiday of the year, the September 2 break is a popular choice for many residents and tourists to travel. A survey of travel agencies in Hue shows a strong demand for tourism during this occasion. Notably, a significant number of travelers are opting for independent trips, traveling with family groups by private car or train.
A representative of Vietravel Hue Co., Ltd., said that while in the past customers often chose full-package tours, this year many are booking only specific services such as hotels, homestays, or attraction tickets. More visitors prefer independent travel to have control over their itineraries. Thanks to convenient transport infrastructure, especially the North-South expressways, many families and groups are self-driving to destinations, deciding when and where to stop along the way.
This flexibility allows travelers to combine multiple destinations. Tourists coming to Hue often extend their trips to include Quang Tri and Da Nang. In Hue, they tend to seek out heritage sites, community-based ecotourism destinations, the Tam Giang Lagoon, and culinary experiences.
According to travel agencies, short tours are also a highlight during the September 2 holiday. Since students are preparing for the new school year, many families are shortening their travel plans. In Hue, most visitors are choosing half-day, one-day, or two-day-one-night tours.
Because of this preference for short and independent travel, hotel bookings are being made closer to the holiday. Mr. Ho Dang Xuan Lan, Chairman of the Hue Hotel Association and General Director of Parkview Hotel Hue, noted that by mid-August, hotel bookings had not yet surged. However, the outlook remains promising. Travelers often book late because they are not tied to pre-arranged tours. In addition, many independent tourists prefer staying in homestays.
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| Tourists visiting the heritage site and take check-in photos |
Ready to welcome visitors
To better attract tourists, Hue-based travel agencies have proactively designed and launched tours well ahead of time. A representative from Vietravel Hue Co., Ltd., shared: “We have prepared and introduced autumn-themed tours, featuring experiences such as Rú Chá mangrove forest, Thuy Bieu Ecolodge, Tam Giang Lagoon, Bach Ma National Park, Thanh Tien paper flower village, and Bao Vinh ancient town. Most packages are one-day tours or two-day-one-night tours. Prices during the holiday are slightly higher, with an average increase of 5–10%.”
According to Ms. Duong Thi Cong Ly, Director of Vietnam Sightseeing Hue Co., to enhance evening experiences, the company will increase the frequency of its music bus service - night tours featuring live performances on double-decker buses for all four days of the holiday. Daytime sightseeing bus trips around Hue will also run regularly.
Along with new tourism products, accommodation providers are also preparing to welcome guests, refreshing menus and improving service quality. Mr. Lan noted that hotels are conducting thorough facility checks and arranging adequate staff and resources to ensure smooth operations during peak days.
Director of the Department of Tourism, Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, said Hue remains a highly attractive destination, offering cultural, culinary, and leisure tourism experiences that combine traditional heritage values with modern festival activities under the “Four Season Festival” framework and the National Tourism Year 2025. A large influx of visitors is expected during the holiday. Travel companies have already carried out surveys and developed new tourism products to serve guests.
During the September 2 holiday, Hue will continue to highlight its signature tourism products linked to culture, heritage, community-based experiences, and green tourism. Visitors can join activities such as cycling tours of Phuoc Tich ancient village, Kim Long garden houses, and Thanh Toan tiled-roof bridge; eco-community trips in Thuy Bieu, Phu Mau, A Luoi, Doi village, and Tam Giang–Cau Hai Lagoon; as well as the Net Zero tour “One Green Day in Hue,” which is gaining strong interest.