Tourists at a beach in Nha Trang City. VNA/VNS Photo Tiên Minh

HCM CITY — Tourists are booking mostly short-distance trips and brief stays near their homes for the upcoming National Day (September 2) holiday.

A representative of Vietravel said that all group tours stopped after the second COVID-19 outbreak in late July.

The company is now focusing on services for family groups such as car rentals, hotel reservations and tickets at tourist spots on Phú Quốc Island and Vũng Tàu City for the upcoming holiday.

Luxury staycations at hotels such as Rex, Lotte Saigon, and Vinpearl Luxury in HCM City are another alternative chosen by tourists, the representative said.

A staycation package at upscale hotels with discounted prices starting from VNĐ1.3 - 3.4 million (US$56-146) for two guests are especially suitable for locals in HCM City and neighbouring localities.  

TST Tourist is focusing on one or two-day tours by road with prices starting from VNĐ700,000-1.8 million ($30-77) a person.

Nguyễn Minh Mẫn of TST Tourist’s marketing department said the company has adopted COVID-19 preventive measures to ensure safety for tourists.

Fewer than 30 passengers are being grouped in a 45-seat bus, and fewer than 20 guests in a 30-seat bus, to maintain safe distancing, Mẫn said.

Struggling travel operators are striving to organise tours for the holiday in an attempt to maintain operations and create work for staff, according to the HCM City Department of Tourism.

Travel agencies said that they plan to offer stimulus tour packages for the autumn season and year-end holidays if the outbreak is under control in September.

During the upcoming holiday, the Sài Gòn Railway Transport Joint Stock Company will run additional trains on routes from HCM City to Nha Trang. The company has committed to implement preventive measures to ensure safety for passengers and staff.

The central coastal province of Khánh Hòa is expected to welcome small groups and families during the National Day holiday, said Hoàng Văn Vinh, chairman of Khánh Hòa Province Tourism Association. — VNS