Travel firms say that 90 percent of tours for the 5-day May holiday have closed, especially for outbound tours. Only some domestic tours, especially road tours, are still available.

The tours offered at VITM Hanoi 2023 are mostly summer tours with modest discount rates of 10-30 percent. Most of the tours depart in May or September-October. 

Meanwhile, there are very few discounted tours with departure in June, July and August.

Thanks to the 60 percent airfare reduction offered by Bamboo Airways, Flamingo Redtours has launched tours to Da Nang – Hoi An, Tuy Hoa – Quy Nhon, Ly Son Island and new destinations such as Diep Son Island and Vinh Hy Bay with a discount rate of 30 percent.

The departure will be in mid month, such as May 15 and May 18.

The travel firm has also offered another 10 discount rate and up to VND40 million for travelers who book tours and make payment via VnPay. 

Some tours for group travelers have big discounts, but they are only open for sale at certain hours.

At the trade fair, Vietluxtour launched a wide range of products, with many air carriers and 3-5-star hotels. The discount rates of VND1-1.5 million are offered for domestic tours. As for outbound tours, the discount rates of VND2-3 million were offered for tours to Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Europe, Bali and Fenghuang Ancient Town with departure time in June, July and August.

Also, the travel firm offered a 15 percent tour fee reduction for10 tours to visit HCM City.

During the four-day trade fair, travelers had the opportunity to choose 20 domestic tours and 50 outbound tours with discount rates of up to 30 percent offered by Vietravel, together with the combos of air tickets and hotel rooms. 

The combo to Da Nang was priced at VND2.59 million per traveler for three days and two nights, while the combo to Quy Nhon was VND4.49 million (4 days and 3 nights), and the combo to Phu Quoc VND4.99 million (4 days and 3 nights).

The sale promotion campaigns run by travel firms are being backed by airlines’ preferential airfare programs. Vietravel Airlines launched 1,900 air tickets with prices from VND9,900, or $0.5, or 16 baht (not including tax and fee) for all air routes on April 13-14.

Bamboo Airways slashed airfares by 20 percent for domestic flights, except for flights to Con Dao Island and the Hanoi – HCM City route

Vietnam Airlines had a stall at the trade fair, but did not announce an exact number of preferential tickets and discount rates.

At VITM Hanoi 2022, most tours under the demand stimulus program had discount rates of 40-60 percent, while at VITM Hanoi 2023, the biggest discount rate was only 30 percent. Travel firms blamed this on high airfares. 

The number of preferential tickets that airlines reserved for travel firms is lower this year, and discount rates are also lower. Meanwhile, airfare accounts for 50 percent of tour costs.

Nguyen Ngoc An, deputy CEO of Vietluxtour, said the number of demand stimulus tours this summer is very small. To have 10-30 percent discount rates, most travel firms have had to cut their profit margins, or sell tours at cost. 

Hotels, restaurants and transport service providers have not worked together well to design the best services at best costs for travelers.

Bui Thanh Tu, marketing director of Best Price, said the company is offering a 20 percent discount rate to travelers who book tours immediately. 

However, because the airfare is high, tours to Phu Quoc have not been chosen by many travelers, despite a preferential hotel room rate of 70 percent.

Nguyen Tien Dat, CEO of AZA Travel, noted that travel firms are cautious when booking preferential air tickets. They have to pay a deposit of 30 percent and make payment 30-60 days in advance. 

Meanwhile, travelers are tightening their purse strings and they only make decisions after comparing tour fees of many travel firms.

A representative of an airline said that demand for air tickets has been low so far this year. 

Even if airlines increase the number of flights and provide more seats to reduce ticket prices, the number of passengers will not increase. The possibility of airfare reduction this year is very low.

Ngoc Ha