As the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day approaches, Hanoi is experiencing an unprecedented tourism boom, with the city at the heart of a nationwide surge in travel activity. According to Booking.com and Agoda, two of the world’s leading travel platforms, Hanoi has leapt from seventh place in 2024 to become the most searched destination for Vietnamese travelers during the upcoming 2/9 holiday. Agoda’s data is even more striking: searches for accommodation in the capital have jumped over 44 times compared to the previous year.
What’s driving this surge? The answer lies in a potent mix of historical commemoration, cultural pride, and a fresh wave of tourism products. This year, Hanoi plays host to a series of high-profile events marking the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, with the centerpiece being a grand parade at Ba Dinh Square on September 2. The city is pulling out all the stops, and travelers are responding in kind.
Hotel bookings tell the story in numbers. As reported by CLO, many three- and four-star hotels and budget-friendly homestays—those with nightly rates below one million VND—have been fully booked since more than a month before the holiday. Smaller hotels in popular districts like the Old Quarter, around Hoan Kiem Lake, and near Ba Dinh Square are reporting no vacancies, with room rates rising 30–50% above normal. Even the A25 hotel chain, which operates about 40 hotels across Hanoi, has hit 90% occupancy, with the remaining rooms mostly in outlying areas such as My Dinh and Cau Giay.
"Hotels in Ba Dinh, Hoan Kiem, and Hai Ba Trung districts are almost completely booked out. We have committed not to raise room prices," said Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, CEO of the A24 hotel group, as quoted by CLO. Meanwhile, REY Hotel Hanoi announced it was fully booked for the night of September 1, with both international and domestic visitors securing their accommodations well in advance. This, according to the hotel’s management, underscores the powerful draw of Hanoi during this milestone holiday.
For those seeking a more luxurious stay, there’s still some hope. Higher-end hotels—those in the four- and five-star range—still have limited availability, though bookings are filling up quickly. Pan Pacific Hanoi, for example, reported that its occupancy rate had reached 73% in mid-August, with a modest 5% increase in room rates for the holiday period. "Compared to last year’s 2/9 holiday, guest numbers have increased by about 30–40%, mainly Vietnamese travelers seeking short breaks in Hanoi. With the current pace of bookings, we expect to reach 90–95% occupancy, similar to other peak festival seasons," said Thanh Thuy, the hotel’s marketing manager, as reported by CLO.
Other major hotels, including Movenpick, Thang Long, Novotel, and Grand Mercure Hanoi, are also seeing strong demand, with occupancy rates hovering around 60% in mid-August. Novotel Hanoi, with nearly 500 rooms, still offers a variety of options for last-minute travelers, but the window is closing fast.
The surge is not confined to central Hanoi. According to Baolaocai.vn, the capital’s tourism boom is spilling over into neighboring destinations—Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Ha Long, and even as far as Sa Pa. Many travelers, especially from southern and central Vietnam, are booking combined tours that start in Hanoi and venture into these satellite regions. The popular “Heritage Journey” tour, connecting Hanoi, Ninh Binh, Bac Ninh, Ha Long, and Sa Pa, has been particularly well received by southern tourists, including overseas Vietnamese from Germany and Australia. The Hanoi-Sa Pa route stands out for its cool climate, stunning scenery, and unique cultural experiences.
Tour operators are scrambling to keep up. Nguyen Van Tai, CEO of Vietsense Travel, told Baolaocai.vn that bookings for Hanoi and northern provinces during the 2/9 holiday have increased two to three times compared to previous years. Tours for mid-September and early October are already filling up. To meet demand, companies like Saigontourist Travel have partnered with Vietnam Airlines to offer packages such as the “Proud Journey of Vietnam,” which combines attendance at the historic parade in Ba Dinh Square with explorations of northern Vietnam’s natural beauty.
But the appeal of Hanoi this holiday isn’t limited to parades and pageantry. The city’s tourism sector, recognizing the opportunity, has rolled out a slew of new experiences. From August 19, a night tourism train dubbed “Five Gates” will begin operating, offering visitors an evocative journey through the city’s storied past amid its modern bustle. Museums and cultural sites—including the Ho Chi Minh Museum, National History Museum, Fine Arts Museum, Vietnam Contemporary Arts Theater, and the Cultural Village of Vietnam’s Ethnic Groups—will open their doors free of charge, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the nation’s history and art.
Hotels are doing their part to entice guests. Many have launched special holiday packages, decorated their lobbies with flags and flowers, and set up colorful check-in points for festive photos. Pan Pacific Hanoi, for example, is collaborating with the Ba Dinh District People’s Committee to promote cultural tourism experiences, such as tours on vintage train carriages that recreate the ambiance of Hanoi’s bygone days, and night excursions exploring traditional craft villages and the cultural landscape of Truc Bach.
According to Dang Huong Giang, Director of Hanoi’s Department of Tourism, the city has been preparing for months, upgrading services and readying accommodations to serve the influx of visitors. “This major anniversary is expected to attract a large number of domestic and international tourists to the capital,” she told CLO. The department is set to introduce 80 new tourism products to meet the diverse needs of travelers eager to experience the holiday’s atmosphere.
Not every traveler, of course, is drawn to the crowds and festivities. Some are opting for beach destinations like Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc for a more relaxing holiday, while others choose regional tours to discover the unique charms of their own localities. Still, the numbers speak for themselves: the 2/9 holiday is shaping up to be a turning point for Vietnam’s tourism industry, setting the stage for a robust high season and bringing the country closer to its ambitious growth targets.
With Hanoi at the center of it all—buzzing with pride, packed with visitors, and alive with celebration—the capital is not just marking a historical milestone, but redefining itself as Vietnam’s must-visit destination for both locals and international guests.
