Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Vietnamese are setto enjoy a long holiday from April 28, and services are already strained underthe expected surge of people ready to leave big cities.

The upcoming National Reunification Day - May Dayholiday (April 30-May 1) this year falls right after the weekend, so mostpeople will have four whole days off work, prompting many families to either goback to their hometowns for a family reunion or travel to kick off the summer.

Out of seats

Having expected the rocketing demand fortravel in the long holiday, transport providers tried to expand their servicesto prepare, but the situation is close to breaking point.

Saigon Station Director Do Quang Van told theThanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on April 26 that the station increased thenumber of trains by 30 percent, or 13,000 seats to the same period last year.However, trains running from HCM City to tourist destinations like Phan Thiet,Nha Trang or Quy Nhon on April 27 and 28 had only few dozens seats left as ofApril 26.

Hanoi Station was in no better condition. Aquick check on the online ticket selling site of the Vietnam Railways showedthat four out of five trains bounding for HCM City were fully booked whilethere were just a dozen seats still available on the last remaining. Trainsheading to Lao Cai province, where Sa Pa is located, were completely out oftickets.

This has occurred despite the fact that HanoiStation is running an extra of 29 trains, providing an additional 6,804 cabinbeds and 8,368 seats.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Western Coach Terminal DeputyDirector Dang Nguyen Nguyen Huan said that the two biggest coach companies inthe city – Phuong Trang and Thanh Buoi – have so far sold more than 55,000inter-provincial bus tickets for the three supposedly busiest days from todayto Sunday.

The number did not take into account smallercoach companies also operating at the terminal.

“Passengers won’t be able to find a vacancyonline now, but if they come to buy the tickets directly at the terminal, theremight be some left,” he said.

There are yet reports on how Hanoi’s coachesare coping, but the city’s Department of Transport has already prepared some600 stamp licences for extra coaches running specifically for the holiday.Accordingly, Giap Bat Station is expected to have an additional 230 coaches,while Gia Lam and My Dinh stations will add 70 and 225 coaches, respectively.

Aviation traffic is also reaching its utmostcapacity. Air tickets to tourist hotspots like Phu Quoc and Nha Trang almostran out of seats this week, with some particular flights by the flag carrierVietnam Airlines selling all but business class seats.

A representative of the low-cost carrierJetstar Pacific said that the airline has increased the number of flights byabout 30 percent compared to the same holiday period last year, but is far frommeeting demand.

Jetstar’s flights from HCM City to Phu Quoc,Da Nang or Quy Nhon are only a few seats short from being full, he said.

“It is extremely difficult for passengersbuying tickets at the moment,” a Jetstar Pacific representative said.

Car rents surge

Many families tried to steer clear of theoverwhelming mass transport, opting to rent their own cars instead.  

But with demand for car hire skyrocketingahead of the holiday, prices in HCM City and Hanoi have shot up.

In HCM City, car rental companies such as Gia DinhViet in Tan Binh district and Huy Thang Auto in District 1 have raised theirdaily rates from 700,000–800,000 VND (31-35 USD) to 1–1.2 million VND,depending on the size and model.

Many customers began scouting for cars asearly as March.

“We have a lot of customers placing orderswith us two weeks in advance, since many want to go on a four-day trip. Weprioritise frequent and regular customers, but we do try to provide foreveryone,” an owner of Auto Huy Hoang Car Rental said.

Many operators have no more cars to let out.

Others have put customers on a waiting listwithout a guarantee that they will receive a car, and are urging them to putdown deposits sooner rather than later, warning rates could increase further.

Some car rentals in Hanoi are only allowingcustomers to rent cars for all four days of the holidays, and some customershave had to do so despite only traveling for two days.

As families look forward to visiting relativesor sightseeing, most have had to pay higher rates to avoid traveling on crowdedbuses.

Some are even choosing to travel by taxi. DangLe Minh said he has booked a seven-seat taxi for 1.8 million VND to go from Hanoito Thanh Hoa province.

While it is more expensive than renting, hesaid he does not have to worry about driving or looking after a rented car.

Too crowded  

Several tourism companies reported that mostof their tours during the holiday are fully booked, with beaches in Da Nang, PhuQuoc, Ha Long and Nha Trang being the most attractive destinations besidescooler mountainous places like Da Lat and Sa Pa.

Without booking at least a month in advance,last-minute tourists will struggle to find decent accommodation at thosedestinations for the holiday. Five-star resorts in Phu Quoc or Nha Trang allannounced full reservation, as did several cheaper hotels, motels and homestaysin Da Lat, and beaches close to HCM City such as Vung Tau and Mui Ne.

Thanh Nien newspaper also reported a spike inhotel prices, particularly in Da Nang where the much-awaited annual fireworkcompetition is set to open on April 30. Hotels and resorts of four to fivestars are now charging between 5.5 million VND and 8 million VND per night, anincrease of two to three times compared to normal prices.

Two-star hotels, meanwhile,had their prices rise from the usual 500,000 VND to 1.2-1.5 million VND anight.-VNA