People in Nghe An are bustling back to their hometowns for the September 2nd holiday.
The five-day National Day holiday on September 2nd is creating a major travel peak. At train stations, airports, and bus terminals, the number of passengers has increased significantly as people return to their hometowns for family reunions and visits, while many tourists also choose Nghe An as their destination during the long holiday.
Crowds of people are returning to their hometowns.
At noon on August 29th, the first day of the National Day holiday, Vinh Train Station was much busier than usual. From the waiting area to the platform, passengers carrying luggage, suitcases, and bags of local gifts moved in a continuous stream.
Some people are returning to their hometowns for the holiday, others are welcoming relatives, and some travelers are choosing Nghe An as their destination. The bustling atmosphere is evident as the National Day holiday on September 2nd officially begins.
At approximately 12 PM, the SE7 train traveling from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City stopped at Vinh Station. During the stop, about 200 passengers boarded and disembarked. At the station, the crowd quickly dispersed in all directions, creating a bustling and lively scene.
Amidst the crowds returning to their hometowns, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong, originally from Hung Nguyen commune and currently working in Ho Chi Minh City, said she was taking advantage of the holiday to bring her children back to visit their grandparents. Because her family couldn't arrange time to return home for the April 30th holiday, this time she wanted to reunite with relatives before her children start the new school year. "My children are about to start school, so I'm taking this opportunity to visit their grandparents and relatives. The whole family is very happy," Ms. Huong shared.
Due to the surge in passenger numbers during the holiday period, the railway industry has added many extra train services to meet travel demand. While normally there are about 4 North-South train pairs stopping at Vinh Station, during this period, additional trains such as SE11-SE12, NA3-NA4, SE35-SE36 have been added, along with regular trains like NA1, NA2, SE1, SE2, SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6... are also available. In particular, trains NA1 and NA3 from Hanoi to Vinh carry approximately 400 passengers per trip.
On the first and last days of the holiday, Vinh Station is expected to welcome around 3,000-4,000 passengers boarding and alighting, a significant increase compared to normal days; many train carriages are full, including extra seats.
According to Mr. Cao Ngoc Tuan, head of the Vinh Railway Transport Station, the majority of passengers traveled from Hanoi to Nghe An on August 28-29, then increased again on the Vinh-Hanoi route on September 2-3.
Notably, many families who had just returned to their hometowns proactively booked return tickets immediately, fearing that seats would be sold out during the final days of the holiday. Besides the demand for returning home, routes between Vinh and Hanoi, Vinh and Hue, Vinh and Da Nang, and Vinh and Nha Trang were also popular choices for tourists and visiting relatives.
At Vinh International Airport, during peak holiday periods, dozens of flights take off and land, meeting the increased travel demand. The Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh - Hanoi, Vinh - Buon Ma Thuot, and Vinh - Cam Ranh (Nha Trang) routes... saw the strongest increase in passenger numbers.
In response to the increased demand, airport operators proactively mobilized personnel, equipment, and service plans to ensure safe and smooth operations. Vinh Airport is not only a transit point for people returning home, but also welcomes visitors from many localities to Nghe An for relaxation and sightseeing during the National Day holiday on September 2nd.
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According to the leaders of Vinh International Airport, the unit has proactively implemented a plan to serve passengers during the National Day holiday, coordinating with airlines and relevant forces to ensure safe and smooth operations.
Tighten control over bus tickets.
Despite the stability of transportation services at train stations and airports, passenger transport still faces some shortcomings during peak periods. Increased travel demand leads to price increases at some bus companies, while the practice of picking up and dropping off passengers at unauthorized locations still occurs.
According to reports from residents, in the days leading up to the holiday, the price of sleeper bus tickets on some routes increased by 100,000 - 200,000 VND per ticket.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thoa from Van Hien commune said that on August 29th, her family took a PA sleeper bus from Nuoc Ngam Bus Station to Nghe An. Previously, a VIP double sleeper ticket cost around 550,000 VND, but during this holiday period, the price increased to 750,000 VND, a rise of 200,000 VND.
"The ticket prices have increased quite a bit, and since there are only two people in my family, the travel costs have increased significantly," Ms. Thoa shared.
Similarly, Mr. Le Van Tinh from Quang Chau commune said that the bus fare from Hanoi to Nghe An on August 28th was about 350,000 VND/ticket, an increase of 100,000 VND compared to normal days. According to Mr. Tinh, due to the high demand for travel, it is very difficult for passengers to buy tickets if they book late, especially during peak days.
However, not all bus companies have increased their prices. Some companies are still maintaining two price levels of 320,000 VND and 450,000 VND per ticket, depending on the type of vehicle, in order to maintain their reputation and build trust with customers.
Upon investigation, the price increase was mainly recorded on some Hanoi - Nghe An routes. Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh City - Nghe An and Da Nang - Nghe An routes of some bus companies basically maintained prices at around 350,000 VND/ticket; the Ho Chi Minh City - Nghe An route, in particular, is around 900,000 VND/ticket, including a meal.
Besides ticket prices, the practice of buses stopping to pick up and drop off passengers along the way has also been observed in some areas such as Do Luong, Quang Chau, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, etc.
Observations in Yen Thanh commune on August 29th showed that the DA bus company stopped two sleeper buses right in front of houses on National Highway 7B to pick up passengers. The buses stopping so close to the road, along with the loading and unloading of goods, sometimes took place directly on the road itself, posing a danger to pedestrians and other vehicles.
Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Head of the Transport Management Department of the Nghe An Department of Construction, said that the unit has requested transport businesses to proactively plan for increasing trips and redeploying vehicles to meet travel demand. Protecting passengers' rights is paramount; functional forces will strengthen inspection and supervision of transport activities at bus stations, and strictly handle acts of overcrowding, illegal price increases, and abandonment of fixed routes.
The People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Official Document No. 11048/UBND-NC dated August 27, 2026, requesting departments, agencies, and localities to strengthen traffic safety and order during the National Day holiday on September 2nd and the beginning of the new school year. In accordance with Prime Minister's Directive No. 55/CĐ-TTg, the Provincial Police mobilized forces and resources to increase patrols and inspections on traffic routes; focusing on handling violations related to alcohol and drug use, speeding, lane usage, and conducting comprehensive inspections of passenger and cargo transport vehicles, contributing to ensuring safe and smooth traffic during peak days.
