Many travel firms have kept tour prices unchanged while others are offering big discounts of 30-35 per cent for the upcoming National Holiday early next month (September 2).

Holiday hotspot: Dong Van Stone Plateau in Ha Giang Province is among many regional attractions hoping to woo visitors during the upcoming National Holiday.

The Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reported on Monday that the The He Tre Tourism Co, in collaboration with Vietnam Airlines, will offer two tours of the northeastern region at unchanged prices despite it being a holiday, when prices normally rise significantly.

Those who take the tours will be able to enjoy several attractions including the Dong Van Stone Plateau, Lung Cu Flag Pole, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Ba Be Lake, Nguom Ngao Cave and Ban Gioc Waterfall.

The tours, lasting six or seven days starting from August 30, cost VND9.8 million (US$470) and VND11.4 million ($540), respectively. This would be up to 35 per cent lower than current market prices, the company said.

For the National Day holiday, Fiditour is offering tours from HCM City to favoured destinations like Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands with discounts of up to 30 per cent.

A three-day all-inclusive tour price for Phu Quoc will be reduced by VND1.57 million ($75) to VND5.19 million ($250) per visitor, while that for Con Dao will drop by VND300,000 ($14) to VND6.46 million ($310).

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, marketing and communication director of the Saigontourist Travel Service Co, said that in keeping with the policy to promote domestic tourism, the company had guaranteed that it would not only refrain from increasing tour prices on this occasion, but also offer many cost-saving tours.

Tourists from HCM City can choose tours to Buon Ma Thuot, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Sapa, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat, or Phan Thiet with prices ranging from VND2.5-6.5 million ($120-310).

Besides, there are longer tours to the northern, central and western regions priced from VND5 million ($240) onwards, departing from HCM City on September 1 and 2.

Since this year's National Day holiday falls on Monday, most visitors tend to choose short tours of 3-4 days.

On the occasion of the National Day, Saigontourist would launch its river tours, Tra said.

Recommended tours include a half-day tour to Cu Chi Tunnel, Long Phuoc Garden and Binh Quoi Tourist Village; and a full-day tour to Can Gio and Long An. The tours cost VND294,000-2.23 million ($14-106) per person.

Ton That Hoa, general secretary of the HCM City Tourism Association (HTA), said that the association would sign this week a domestic tourism stimulus programme with Vietjet Air.

The agreement would be a win-win situation for everyone, Hoa said, adding: "Travel firms will have more opportunities to exploit cheap air tickets to sell tours and consumers will have the opportunity to buy cheap travel tours."