Da Lat's tourism sector is experiencing a boost following the reopening of the airport; many accommodation providers report a roughly 40% increase in bookings a trend extending throughout September, rather than being limited to just the holidays.
Mr. Dinh Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Lam Dong Provincial People's Committee, welcomes tourists at Lien Khuong Airport. - Photo: M.V.
For over 15 years, the September 2nd holiday period was never considered peak tourism season for Da Lat. This year, however, many accommodation providers report a roughly 40% increase in bookings—a surge that extends beyond the holiday itself to cover the entire month of September. Industry insiders jokingly attribute this to the "reopening airport effect."
40% Increase in Da Lat Visitors
In previous years, even with the airport operating normally during the September 2nd holiday, Da Lat remained quiet; as summer ended, visitor numbers would typically dwindle. This year, the situation is reversed. Tourism activity has surged following the reopening of Lien Khuong Airport on August 19, after months of closure for upgrades and expansion.
A representative from Vietnam Airlines' Lam Dong branch stated that since the reopening, none of the airline's flights have had empty seats—a trend most evident on the new route to Can Tho. For the Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi routes specifically, the airline has had to increase flight frequency and switch to wide-body aircraft to accommodate more passengers.
The representative also noted that September was historically a slow month for tourism, which in turn impacted air travel. This year, however, travelers from across the country are flocking to Da Lat by air, driving up passenger numbers for other modes of transport as well.
Khách đến Da Lat via Lien Khuong Airport – Photo: M.V.
Ms. Indy Le, owner of the Nha Tre homestay, noted a significant surge in bookings from Hanoi and Da Nang for September 2025. "Returning guests messaged me saying, 'As soon as the airport opens, I’ll book my ticket immediately; I’ve been waiting for this moment,'" she recounted.
Ms. Tran Thi Dung, General Manager of Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa, believes the surge stems from travelers in distant markets who had been waiting out the airport's five-month closure; now that it has reopened, the simultaneous influx of visitors has created a noticeable effect. She added that this growth is also driven by proactive promotion from the local tourism sector and demand-stimulation efforts by businesses.
Shifting service sales strategies: a win-win
However, the 40% figure does not apply across all market segments. Mr. Nguyen Nhat Vu, Deputy General Director of Lam Dong Tourism Joint Stock Company (Dalattourist), stated that this growth is concentrated in the high-end hotel sector.
"Airfares to Da Lat are currently attractive cheaper than those to Da Nang or Nha Trang," Mr. Vu said, attributing this to agreements reached between Lam Dong province and the airlines.
Dalattourist is currently offering a 40% discount on Lang Biang sightseeing tickets for visitors from Northern Vietnam, a promotion running through the end of the year.
Da Lat is among the most sought-after destinations for the September 2nd holiday. – Photo: T.A.
Ms. Pham Thanh Nga, a 36-year-old from Hanoi, booked tickets for her entire family the very week the airport reopened. "We had originally planned to go in April 2026, but that would have required flying into Ho Chi Minh City and then driving for several more hours, so we decided against it," she explained.
How long will this effect last? Mr. Dinh Tuan Anh, Director of the Entertainment Cluster at TTC Hospitality (Thanh Thanh Cong Lam Dong Tourism Co., Ltd.), stated that the company has identified the period from August 29 to September 6 as a peak week, rather than concentrating demand on just one or two public holidays.
Mr. Tuan Anh believes that this is not the time for the tourism industry to engage in a race to offer deep price cuts.
"We should shift from simply selling tickets or rooms to selling a complete Da Lat experience at a special all-inclusive price covering entertainment, dining, and family-oriented perks. We need to implement policies that encourage guests to stay for three to five days instead of just one or two," he said. According to Mr. Tuan Anh, many other accommodation providers in Da Lat are adopting this same approach.
Although booking numbers have risen for the holiday period and throughout September, accommodation facilities in Da Lat particularly small hotels with fewer than 20 rooms still have vacancies (as of August 29). Hotel representatives noted that achieving 70% occupancy would be considered a "win," given that September is typically a very quiet month for tourism.
Lam Dong uses events to attract tourists.
In the first eight months of 2026, Lam Dong welcomed over 16.46 million visitors a 19% increase year-on-year generating tourism revenue of nearly VND 45.6 trillion, up 22.3%.
The province achieved nearly 69% of its full-year target of 24 million visitors, even though Lien Khuong Airport was closed for repairs for nearly six months.
During the summer of 2026, the province hosted several major events: the opening ceremony for the announcement of the Mui Ne National Tourist Area master plan, which attracted nearly 10,000 people; the Da Lat Music Night Run 2026, featuring over 5,500 runners; and the Sports Festival 2026, drawing nearly 20,000 participants.
Lam Dong needs an additional 7.5 million visitors to meet its 2026 target. This visitor volume is expected to be achieved following the 2026 Da Lat Flower Festival.
Source: Tuoi Tre Newspaper