A holiday filled with joy.

Diverse experiences, destination appeal.

One of the most striking features of this year's National Day holiday is the increased demand for travel, sightseeing, and experiences, coupled with the extended holiday period. Instead of focusing on long trips or crowded tourist destinations, many families opted for more manageable itineraries, combining visits to historical sites, exploring nature, culture, and community life. This diversity in destination choices opens up opportunities for localities to develop unique tourism products.

The Kim Lien National Special Historical Site is one of the destinations that clearly demonstrates the appeal of cultural and historical tourism during holidays. On National Day, which is also the 57th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's death, thousands of people from many localities came to his birthplace to offer incense, pay respects, and visit. The long lines of people heading to Lang Sen and Hoang Tru not only show the appeal of a familiar destination but also reflect the need to reconnect with historical values ​​and roots during major holidays.

Along with organizing the "Journey Following in Uncle Ho's Footsteps" exhibition, the Kim Lien Historical Site proactively prepared human resources, service plans, and visitor flow management. According to the Kim Lien Historical Site Management Board, thousands of visitors came to the site each day during the holiday. All staff were mobilized to work throughout the holiday, arranging personnel to guide, explain, manage traffic flow, and assist visitors, contributing to maintaining a lively yet solemn and safe atmosphere.

While Kim Lien showcases the appeal of heritage tourism, community-based tourism destinations offer a different kind of experience, driven by the demand for authentic local values. Hoang Bang Viet from Truong Vinh ward, along with a group of five families who chose Xieng village in Mon Son commune as their destination, shared that previous holidays were often long and tiring, especially for those traveling on organized tours. This year, they opted for a shorter trip, bringing their children back to the countryside, villages, and historical sites, where they could sit by the fireplace in a traditional stilt house and enjoy a meal with the Thai ethnic minority.

After a two-day, one-night stay in Xieng village, what pleased Viet's family was not only the scenery but also the experiences connected to local life, such as brocade weaving, cuisine, and community activities. The journey connecting to Lai Ferry, Giang River, Khe Kem Waterfall, and Pu Mat National Park further enhances the options for tourists.

Beyond tourist destinations, the holiday also created opportunities for recreation and community activities right at the local level. In many communes and wards throughout the province, a variety of cultural, artistic, and sporting activities were organized, such as football, volleyball, fishing competitions, camping, and programs for children, contributing to a vibrant atmosphere to celebrate National Day.

From August 28th, many communes and wards organized a series of activities to celebrate the 81st anniversary of the successful August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd. Among these, the Scout troop etiquette competitions attracted a large number of children. In Giai Lac commune, the parade, scoring, flag-raising, formation arrangement, group dance, and creative activities were meticulously prepared, creating a joyful atmosphere while helping children develop good manners, discipline, and teamwork. Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, Chairwoman of the Giai Lac Commune People's Committee, said that the competition was one of the activities that left a deep impression on the youth, children, and local people, serving both as a practical way to celebrate the country's major holidays and as an environment for children to train, interact, and grow.

From tourist attractions to on-site activities, holidays have created many opportunities for people to relax, experience, and connect. According to Mr. Vuong Van Bang, Director of 24/7 International Travel Company, tourists' needs are gradually shifting towards deeper, more diverse experiences connected to local identity. During a trip, tourists not only want to visit historical sites and explore nature but also want to enjoy local cuisine, learn about the culture, and experience the lives of the local people.

Looking at the National Day holiday, this trend is quite evident through the increased interest in community-based, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism destinations. This is a positive sign for Nghe An's tourism development orientation, especially as the province aims to welcome over 10.4 million tourists in 2026, including 6.5 million overnight visitors, with total tourism revenue of approximately 12,500 billion VND. These market signals during the holiday provide a basis for localities and businesses to further improve products, enhance connectivity, and increase the value of the tourist experience.

TThe market is vibrant, and prices are stable.

While tourism and services benefited from increased visitor numbers and travel demand, the goods market also experienced a significant boost during the five-day holiday. Increased demand for food, consumer goods, dining, entertainment, and socializing created a vibrant atmosphere at local markets, seafood markets, supermarkets, and shopping malls. However, contrary to concerns about price increases during long holidays, the market level during this year's National Day holiday remained relatively stable.

At seafood markets, the supply is quite abundant, meeting the needs of locals and tourists. Sea bass, crabs, mantis shrimp, squid, and many other seafood items are selling well, serving family meals and those purchased as gifts. Prices of some items may fluctuate slightly depending on supply and weather, but there is no unusual price increase. Similarly, at local markets, prices of pork, beef, and chicken remain generally stable. Although the previous heavy rains have somewhat affected the supply of vegetables and fruits, the market is still able to meet consumer demand.

In modern retail systems, purchasing power has increased significantly. Lotte Mart Vinh recorded a 30% increase in customer numbers during the holiday compared to normal days, focusing on fresh food, beverages, confectionery, processed foods, and essential consumer goods. Many businesses implemented discount programs, gifts, and combo deals. Combining promotions with entertainment, experiences, and culinary activities also helped the shopping mall become a popular destination for many families during the holiday.

Not only essential goods, but also amusement parks, restaurants, and food services benefited from the demand for relaxation and gatherings. Notably, ticket prices at children's amusement parks did not increase significantly compared to normal days; and there were no instances of arbitrary price gouging or overcharging at restaurants and eateries. This is an important factor contributing to the satisfaction of locals and tourists, and reflects the effectiveness of preparing supplies, controlling the market, and enhancing the responsibility of businesses.

According to the Department of Industry and Trade, manufacturing and trading businesses and distribution systems proactively prepared goods to ensure they could meet the increased demand during the holiday. Many promotional programs were implemented, stimulating purchasing power while helping people save money. Looking at the results of the five-day holiday, the Nghe An market maintained a relatively balanced relationship between increased demand and supply capacity. The bustling activity did not lead to price surges; goods were not scarce, and services did not experience unreasonable price increases. This is one of the important factors contributing to a cost-effective and civilized holiday.

Maintain a peaceful pace during the holidays.

A five-day holiday always places significant pressure on ensuring security, order, and traffic safety. However, looking back at the entire holiday period, traffic and security and order in the area were basically under control, with no serious incidents occurring at tourist spots and public recreational areas.

Prior to the holiday, the province requested that all sectors and localities implement comprehensive solutions to ensure safe and smooth traffic. The provincial police mobilized 100% of their personnel, increasing patrols and controls on key routes and areas, focusing on handling behaviors that directly lead to traffic accidents such as violations related to alcohol and drug use, speeding, lane usage, and overloading passengers. At the Dien Chau - Nghi Son expressway interchange, the volume of vehicles increased compared to normal days, but traffic conditions remained generally stable, with no congestion occurring.

Proactive measures to manage and regulate traffic flow in areas prone to congestion have proven effective. Inspection and enforcement of traffic violations have been intensified, alongside public awareness campaigns and reminders to comply with traffic safety regulations.

At tourist destinations, local authorities and businesses proactively implemented plans to ensure security, order, food safety, fire prevention, rescue, and environmental hygiene. Accommodation establishments publicly displayed room rates, service prices, and surcharges; destinations proactively managed visitor flow to avoid overcrowding. According to reports from relevant units, security and order were ensured at public recreational areas and tourist destinations, with no unfortunate incidents occurring.

The five-day holiday has ended, and people are returning to work and their daily lives. Looking back at this year's National Day holiday, people's needs for rest, recreation, and experiences were met; tourism, services, and shopping activities were more vibrant, while prices remained relatively stable, and security, order, and traffic safety were maintained. It was a joyful but not overwhelming holiday, with a bustling market but without price surges, leaving positive signs in the early days of September.