Vietnamese tourists prefer to travel overnight during New Year's Eve

With a day off to celebrate the New Year, Nhu Trang, 28 years old, living in Hanoi , chose a fully equipped serviced apartment to rest, focusing on quality sleep.

As Trang does office work, said that with a one-day vacation, she prioritizes rest and recharge. Trang and her friends booked a serviced apartment in Hanoi, with full amenities like at home, the difference is that the space is beautifully arranged, giving the feeling of traveling .

The cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment for four people is about two million VND per night. The cost of food is nearly two million VND. Trang's group booked the room in early December because they were worried about running out of rooms close to the holiday.

"We buy food and cook for ourselves, have simple parties, and bring board games. (board game) to play together, then rest in the room," Trang said, adding that the staycation is an opportunity for the group of friends to get away from the computer screen and phone, talk to each other more and relax completely without being tied down by work.

A room with a balcony full of greenery at a serviced apartment in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Bich Phuong

With only one day off for the New Year, many high-end hotels, homestays, and serviced apartments are still fully booked. Some accommodation service businesses in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City said that guests booking rooms this time mainly come to rest and refresh their spirits by changing sleeping places and doing some relaxing activities. Guests are mainly those who live and work in the city, choosing the staycation type. Staycation is a combination of the two words "stay" and "vacation", referring to the form of rest and relaxation at a location near home, which can be in the city or neighboring areas, instead of traveling far away.

A representative of Rey Hotel Hanoi said that the number of guests booking for New Year's Eve increased sharply from the beginning of December. The hotel was fully booked during the peak hours of the New Year, on the night of December 31 and January 1. Most guests booked individually, choosing to rent a two-day, one-night package. The hotel does not charge extra for the holiday "so that guests can have a complete experience".

The owner of Hanoi Old Quarter homestay said that although the vacation is short, many guests still want to experience the festive atmosphere without having to travel far. Guests come to the homestay to experience the cozy space, spending most of their time in the room watching movies, cooking, and resting.

"The need of guests on this occasion is simply to change sleeping place in a new space," said a representative of Hanoi Old Quarter.

A representative of City Oasis serviced apartments in Ho Chi Minh City said that the occupancy rate for the New Year holiday was 100%, with guests booking 3-4 weeks in advance. The building has 27 apartments designed to prioritize personal experiences, with kitchen and bar areas, and additional health care services like those at high-end hotels. Prices range from 800,000 to two million VND per room per night.

Their New Year customers are mainly couples, groups of young people Gen Z, Millennial (generation 1981-1996 ) , a few are foreign guests. Customers mainly live in Ho Chi Minh City, booking rooms on the night of December 31 and January 1.

Ms. Luong Nhi, who lives in Binh Thanh, said she rented a room for 900,000 VND at a boutique hotel (a small hotel that optimizes personal services) in Ben Van Don, District 4 on the occasion of New Year's Day, to enjoy a vacation in the city, to rest and relieve stress. Nhi prioritizes rooms with open space, lots of trees, a soft bed, and a bathtub for relaxing.

"I spent the whole day off for myself because I was busy with work, didn't get enough sleep, and took care of my skin care carelessly," Nhi said, adding that she booked an additional spa package at the serviced apartment.

A room at a boutique hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Hotel le Jardin Secret Saigon

Cung Mi, Project Director of DD Hospitality - a provider of serviced apartments in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Lat, said one of the reasons why staycations are popular is the ability to help guests relax and "escape" from work without having to travel too far.

Staycation services often come with relaxation packages such as spas, massages, or swimming pools, helping guests "de-stress" after stressful working days. The bedroom and bathroom spaces are also designed with the comfort of guests as the focus.

Representative Kim Do - Royal Hotel Saigon said that in recent years, staycation services have become an important part of the hotel's business strategy. "In the past, tourists often traveled far to relax, but now, many customers, especially young people, are looking for quiet vacations right in the city," said the hotel representative.

The hotel offers a wide range of staycation packages, from buffet breakfasts to experience packages that include spa treatments, outdoor sports , or yoga and meditation classes. Relaxing activities included with the stay "help guests avoid boredom".

Nguyen Tran Phuong Uyen, who has more than 10 years of experience providing accommodation services in Ho Chi Minh City, said that young customers when choosing staycation services want to have unique experiences, from room design to entertainment and relaxation programs to feel like traveling.

Varun Grover, Country Director of Booking in Vietnam, commented that as society becomes more and more hectic, sleep is gradually becoming a valuable resource. Sleep tourism is predicted to be a popular trend in the future. This is also one of the trends favored by Vietnamese tourists in the past year. In March, Booking announced the 10 destinations in the Asia-Pacific region where tourists want to travel to sleep the most. Vietnam ranked 6th with 67% of respondents saying that the main purpose of the trip was to enjoy good, uninterrupted sleep.

A representative of a homestay in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, said that staycation guests often spend most of their time resting in their rooms. This facility is equipped with high-quality mattresses, provides pillows according to guests' needs, rooms have soundproofing systems, large windows to welcome natural light and wind, and smart lighting adjustment systems.

"A nice room is not enough, the amenities must ensure guests have a good night's sleep and a complete vacation," said the homestay representative.

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