To avoid the crowds in Da Lat or Phu Quoc during Tet, many tourists are turning to Phu Quy and Mang Den. However, even these peaceful destinations are quickly becoming fully booked during the extended Tet holiday.
Phu Quy Island impresses with its lush green meadows leading to the sea and its spacious, peaceful atmosphere. Photo: Khanh Huyen
About a month before the Lunar New Year, The View Phu Quy Hotel (Phu Quy Island, Binh Thuan Province ) was fully booked for the 1st to 8th day of the first lunar month.
According to Nguyen Xuan Dinh, the hotel owner, Tet (Lunar New Year) came late this year, so the island just barely passed the period of the most extreme northerly winds. If the weather is favorable, he predicts that tourism on the island could be overwhelmed this Tet.
The rapid occupancy rate of rooms in Phu Quy is good news for businesses on the island, but it has left tourists like Lam Phuong Vinh (from Binh Thoi ward, Ho Chi Minh City) bewildered. He hoped to escape the hustle and bustle during Tet, but his plans became difficult as places he thought would be quiet quickly became crowded and fully booked.
Last year, when he went to Da Lat with his family for Tet (Lunar New Year), he wasn't bothered by the high room prices, but rather by the crowded restaurants, night markets, and central streets.
"There were days when we had to queue for an hour to go out for dinner at my house, and the traffic jam on the way back to Ho Chi Minh City was also very long," Vinh told Tri Thuc - Znews.
Tourist Lam Phuong Vinh is planning a trip to Phu Quy Island during the Lunar New Year holiday this year. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.
According to Agoda's report on Lunar New Year 2026 travel trends, domestic travel demand among Vietnamese people increased by nearly 22%, much higher than outbound travel (around 7%). Among the most searched destinations, Da Lat continues to lead, followed by Phu Quoc and Nha Trang.
Data from Booking.com also shows a similar trend, with significant increases in Phan Thiet, Da Nang , and Vung Tau.
As the aforementioned destinations receive significant attention, travelers seeking tranquility look for more secluded spots. Phu Quy or Mang Den, with their relatively convenient travel routes and increasingly developed tourism infrastructure, have become top choices.
However, it has been observed that places touted as "healing" destinations are experiencing high booking rates for the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday.
Nguyen Chi Thanh Street (formerly Da Lat), known as the "hotel street," features numerous accommodations situated close together. Photo: Duy Hieu.
Also in Phu Quy, Quyen Vo, owner of the Nalani Phu Quy boutique hotel, said that the hotel's occupancy rate has reached about 80% since the beginning of January.
"By now, the room is almost fully booked," she said.
According to Dang Van Long, a specialist in booking Phu Quy Island tours, this year, tourists tend to book rooms earlier, 1-2 months in advance. Many groups have already confirmed their bookings as early as the beginning of January 2026.
"Previously, tourists often stayed for 3 days and 2 nights, but this year many are choosing 4 days and 3 nights. The most bookings are from the 3rd to the 7th day of Tet. Some groups even inquired about staying on the 30th night, but are still waiting to see if the weather is favorable," Long said.
Similarly, Mang Den (Quang Ngai province) also recorded a high increase in visitors during Tet. At Mang Diang Boutique Hotel, rooms were fully booked during the peak Tet holiday period.
"Most guests spend the first day of the year visiting relatives and friends, so they tend to book rooms from the 2nd to the 5th day of Tet (Lunar New Year). Currently, all rooms for those days are fully booked," a representative of the establishment said.
Tourists relaxing at a homestay in Mang Den in November 2024. Photo: Linh Huynh.
Conversely, the western route is predicted to be more peaceful, quite suitable for young people who enjoy spring outings by motorbike.
Tourist Thuy Duong (Song May hamlet, Dong Nai) plans a 5-day motorbike trip with friends across the Mekong Delta, visiting Tri Ton (An Giang), Ca Mau Cape, and Mang Thit pottery village (Vinh Long).
"I chose to travel by motorbike to have more control over my journey, allowing me time to have fun, relax, and experience the sun, wind, and dust of the road," Duong shared.
Duong had heard a lot about the genuine and gentle nature of people in the Mekong Delta, so she wanted to experience Tet in that way—slowly and intimately—while also exploring her own limits.