Beach tourism continues to attract visitors

The first half of 2026 concluded with several peak holiday periods for Vietnamese travelers, including the Lunar New Year (Tet), the April 30–May 1 holiday, spring getaways, and early summer vacations. Travel search and booking trends during this period showed that well-established destinations continued to attract strong interest, while several emerging locations also gained popularity.

According to search data from Booking.com, both domestic and international destinations reflected the travel preferences of Vietnamese tourists between January and June 2026.

Mr. Branavan Aruljothi, Country Manager of Booking.com Vietnam, said that coastal destinations remained the top choice for Vietnamese travelers, accounting for half of the ten most-searched domestic destinations.

The findings are consistent with Booking.com's Travel Trends Report, which found that 92% of Vietnamese travelersconsider easy access to beautiful beaches to be one of the most important factors when choosing a destination.

Da Nang topped the list of the most-searched destinations in the first half of 2026, recording a 25% year-on-year increase in search volume. The coastal city attracts visitors with its beach resort offerings while also serving as a convenient gateway to the ancient town of Hoi An and nearby cultural and heritage attractions. Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang ranked second and third, respectively.

Among the ten most-searched domestic destinations, Ninh Binh, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc all recorded search growth of more than 20% compared with the same period in 2025. Outside the top ten, Quy Nhon, Cam Ranh, and Can Thoalso experienced rising search interest during the first half of the year.

In the international market, short-haul destinations across the Asia–Pacific region dominated the list of the ten most-searched cities among Vietnamese travelers over the past six months.

Thailand remained the most-searched country overall. This trend is also in line with Booking.com's research, which found that 17% of Vietnamese travelers plan to prioritize short-haul international trips in 2026.

China climbed to third place among the most-searched countries, up from tenth place during the same period in 2025. Beijing rose 26 places to rank eighth, while Shanghai climbed 11 places and entered the top ten for the first time, ranking seventh.

In addition to Chinese cities, Kuala Lumpur, Tokyo, Seoul, and Singapore were also among the most-searched destinations. According to Booking.com, this trend aligns with survey findings showing that 87% of Vietnamese travelers consider nightlife and entertainment activities to be important factors when selecting a destination.

Hai Phong News