HCM CITY — Travel firms have launched inbound and outbound tours as well as promotion programmes to meet demand for the upcoming New Year holiday and Tết (Lunar New Year) festival.

Discounts are being offered for early-bird bookings, especially group bookings for the four-day New Year holiday from December 29, and Lunar New Year festival from February 2-10.

Vietravel offers a discount of VNĐ800,000 (US$34) and shopping vouchers at Vinmart for early bird bookings.

Phạm Văn Bảy, deputy director of Vietravel’s Hà Nội branch, said that customers began making plans for the New Year and Tết holiday early this month to get good tour prices and have more choices.

The company has launched more than 40 inbound and outbound itineraries for the upcoming holidays.

The Vietravel’s Hà Nội branch said it expected a rise of 30 per cent in tour bookings for the Tết holiday.

Phi Thị Thu Khuyên, deputy head of  marketing and communications for Vietrantour, said the number of tour bookings for the upcoming holidays had risen recently and that bookings were expected to increase 20-30 per cent compared to last year.

Vietrantour is offering more than 500 tour packages with discounts of more than VNĐ 2 million ($85).

Saigontourist said that new overseas itineraries with unique experiences were popular choices for the upcoming holidays. — VNS