 |
| Young travelers checking in while visiting the Hue Imperial Citadel |
Hue attracts tourists from near and far
Early in the morning on the second day of the holiday (August 31), Mr. Ngo Bao Thanh’s family from Nghe An set off for Hue. Traveling in their private car, the family agreed to make only quick stops for meals so they could reach Hue as early as possible. Mr. Thanh shared: “My wife and I have visited Hue three times before, but this is the first time for our kids, so everyone is excited. We’ve already prepared a long list of sightseeing spots, fun activities, and local foods to try.”
After the dissipation of Storm No. 6, the weather in Hue from August 31 was quite pleasant, favoring tourists’ travel and experiences. This year’s holiday, many families and groups of young people opted for self-guided trips, using personal cars or rental vehicles. Mr. Nguyen Van Quang from Dak Lak said that thanks to navigation apps and detailed online travel reviews, getting around and finding food became much more convenient and affordable.
As this is the last long holiday of the year before children return to school, many families took the opportunity to reunite and travel together. At Hue’s attractions, especially its heritage sites, visitors can easily spot large crowds of both domestic and international tourists.
One highlight of the National Day celebration was the sea of red flags with yellow stars seen everywhere - on streets, at tourist sites, cafés, restaurants, and eateries. Not only were national flags proudly displayed, but the red-and-yellow colors also appeared on T-shirts, hats, scarves, and even stickers on visitors’ faces - a lively way to express love for the homeland during this significant national holiday.
According to data from the Department of Tourism, based on hotel bookings and visitor surveys, Hue welcomed an estimated 196,000 visitors during the September 2nd holiday, an increase of nearly 51% compared to last year. Tourism revenue reached approximately 310 billion VND, up almost 135%. Among these, about 92,000 visitors stayed overnight, with 69,000 being domestic tourists. The average hotel occupancy rate was 72%; during peak days (August 31, September 1, and September 2), many hotels reached over 85% occupancy. Most hotels in central Hue, beach resorts, lagoon-side lodges, and homestays across the city were almost fully booked during these three days.
 |
| Beautiful weather favored visitors’ experiences in Hue |
A representative from Vietravel Hue said that independent travel and short tours were the dominant trends this holiday. Tourists often combined their Hue trips with nearby destinations such as Quang Tri and Da Nang. In Hue, many were drawn to heritage exploration, community-based tourism, the Tam Giang Lagoon, and unique cuisine. While many travelers went on self-guided trips, travel agencies still received numerous requests for services such as attraction tickets and hotel bookings.
Hue - a friendly and attractive destination
For this year’s September 2nd holiday, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center announced free entrance tickets for Vietnamese citizens to the Complex of Hue Monuments on September 2. Additionally, many localities and tourist sites organized festivals, events, and experiential activities. Highlights included the Hue Nam Temple Festival (August 30 – September 1), a boat race on the Huong River (September 2), and a special art performance at Ngo Mon Square on the night of September 2, followed by a spectacular high-altitude fireworks show with 1,000 shells illuminating the Hue Flag Tower, promising unforgettable moments for thousands of locals and tourists alike.
In A Luoi, the highland fair themed “Exploring the Colors” ran from August 30 to September 2, offering visitors a chance to experience local culture, cuisine, agricultural products, folk games, sports competitions, and traditional art performances.
 |
| Children enjoy their holiday trip to Hue |
Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism, said that this year, Hue continued to focus on cultural-heritage tourism, community-based tourism, and green travel experiences. Tourists could join various experiential tours, such as cycling trips to explore Phuoc Tich Ancient Village, Kim Long Garden Houses, and Thanh Toan Tiled-Roof Bridge; eco-community journeys in Thuy Bieu, Phu Mau, A Luoi, Thon Doi, and the Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon; and the Net Zero Tour - “A Green Day in Hue,” which is gaining significant interest.
Hue’s tourism sector and service providers are striving to build an image of a safe, friendly, and attractive Hue. Positive impressions come not only from its products and services but also from the warmth and hospitality of Hue’s people.
Mr. Ho Dang Xuan Lan, Chairman of Hue Hotel Association and General Director of Parkview Hue Hotel, shared that before the holiday, hotels inspected their facilities, strengthened staffing, and trained teams to ensure the best service - especially at reception desks, which directly handle guest requests. Professionalism, promptness, and dedication are key factors in retaining visitors.
The Department of Tourism also required accommodations to publicly list prices, strictly prohibiting price gouging or forcing services during peak periods, aiming to uphold Hue’s image as a civilized and welcoming tourist destination. Inspections and monitoring were enhanced, and a 24/7 hotline was set up to promptly handle complaints and protect the rights of both tourists and businesses.