Phu Quoc: New Year's Day 2026 travel plan - only 1 day off.

Although workers will only have one day off (Thursday) for New Year's Day 2026, the trend in tourism is anything but "short" by the holiday period. Speaking to VietNamNet reporters, many travel agencies said that the number of tour bookings for Christmas and New Year's Day 2026 has increased compared to the same period last year, especially for international routes.

According to BestPrice Travel, a common theme among many travel options this year is a concise itinerary, prioritizing experiences for families and young children, direct flights, and limiting shopping destinations. If you're planning a trip that's "just long enough" for a change of scenery, here are some notable suggestions based on search data and travel agency reviews.

Phu Quoc: the starting point for multi-generational vacations.

According to domestic travel companies, Phu Quoc (An Giang) is the most popular destination for Vietnamese tourists during the 2026 New Year holiday. Data from the Booking platform also shows that the island leads in searches by Vietnamese tourists for the upcoming Tet holiday, an 86% increase compared to the same period last year.

For international tourists, Phu Quoc is also the most searched-for destination in Vietnam, according to data from the travel platform Agoda; searches for Christmas and New Year holidays increased by 47% compared to the same period. Agoda attributes the appeal to its white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, rich natural ecosystem, and a system of resorts and amusement parks suitable for multi-generational trips.

If you want to "travel less but experience more," Phu Quoc is perfect for a slow-paced travel style: spend time by the beach in the morning, an afternoon strolling around new iconic landmarks, and a seafood dinner to complete your relaxing getaway. This type of itinerary is also easy to fit into a 3-4 day vacation, perfectly aligning with the trend of booking mid-range tours at the end of the year.

Regarding destination highlights, in early December, Phu Quoc received the title of “World’s Leading Natural Island and Beach Destination” for the fourth time at the World Travel Awards (WTA) 2025. Bai Kem Beach was honored as “World’s Leading Regional Beach 2025”; the Kiss Bridge was named “World’s Leading Iconic Tourism Bridge”; and Sunset Town became “World’s Leading Iconic Tourism Destination 2025” for the second consecutive time.

Domestic options remain strong choices: Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City, and Central Vietnam.

Following Phu Quoc, Da Lat and Ho Chi Minh City ranked second and third respectively in the top 10 most popular domestic destinations. In Central Vietnam, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Vung Tau, Mui Ne, and Hoi An continued to be familiar names; in Northern Vietnam, Hanoi and Sa Pa were among the top choices.

From a "short but quality" perspective, these destinations are suitable for combined vacations: you can flexibly fly directly, choose a concise 3-4 day itinerary, and prioritize experiences that are easy to enjoy with family. This is also a product group that is currently popular with Vietnamese tourists, according to statistics from BestPrice Travel, Vietluxtour, and Hoang Viet Travel.

Tour cost and duration: a reference framework for quick calculation.

According to statistics from BestPrice Travel, Vietluxtour, and Hoang Viet Travel, Vietnamese tourists prefer:

• Domestic toursThe cost is 5-10 million VND per person for a 3-4 day program.
• Overseas toursThe cost is 12-20 million VND per person for a 4-5 day trip.

Ms. Tran Thi Bao Thu, Marketing and Communications Director of Vietluxtour, said that medium-sized tours lasting 4-5 days are leading in booking rates, especially themed programs such as winter tours, family vacations, and cultural experience tours.

Year-end overseas sales: Thailand and China lead the way.

Branavan Aruljothi, Country Director of Booking Vietnam, noted that Vietnamese tourists' travel behavior at the end of the year is clearly differentiated: one group prioritizes convenience and relaxation at familiar domestic destinations; the other group seeks new cultural experiences through short trips within the Asia-Pacific region.

For international travel, Asian destinations dominate the search results, led by Bangkok (Thailand), Tokyo (Japan), and Seoul (South Korea). Paris (France) is the only non-Asian destination in the top 10 and recorded a search growth of over 50% year-on-year, thanks to the allure of Christmas and New Year.

Thailand continues to be popular due to its low cost, convenient transportation, and vibrant nightlife. Meanwhile, China shows strong appeal to Vietnamese travelers: according to Agoda, among the top 20 most searched overseas destinations for Vietnamese families between December 2025 and January 2026, Shanghai saw a 58% increase and Beijing a 59% increase.

Vietnamese travel agencies are also introducing many New Year's Day packages in China, such as tours to Taipei – Taichung – Kaohsiung or Shanghai – Hangzhou – Wuzhen. Harbin (the capital of Heilongjiang province) is not a new destination, but it remains one of the most popular choices for this holiday.

If you only need one day off: choose the 24-hour package to "recharge".

To meet the needs of busy customers who can only take one day off for the 2026 New Year's holiday, some companies are offering 24-hour packages.

• BestPriceIntroducing a Halong Bay cruise package – 5-star resort stay, overnight experience on the bay for families and couples.
• These local travel packages in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City combine 5-star hotel stays, fine dining, and spa treatments.

This product group is described as suitable for high-income travelers with busy schedules who want a short but "deep enough" break to recharge.

Tips for creating a concise itinerary without missing out on experiences.

• Choose a 3-4 day timeframe if combining leave.This is a popular domestic tour package costing 5-10 million VND per person, making it easy to balance relaxation and experiences.
• Prioritize itineraries with fewer shopping stops.According to BestPrice Travel, Vietnamese tourists are increasingly favoring "shopping-free" tours that are concise and offer many experiences for families.
• Watch for straight flight pathsThis helps save time, especially when the main holiday is only one day long.
• Follow the "theme"According to Vietluxtour, winter tours, family vacations, and cultural experiences are product groups that have seen good booking rates.

For short vacations, the most important thing isn't to visit many places, but to choose the right timing: an attractive destination, a flexible itinerary, and experiences that suit your travel companions. Search data shows that Phu Quoc has a clear advantage for that formula during the end-of-year season.