Several airlines have opened direct routes to overseas destinations, lowering prices and simplifying visa procedures.

US tours attractive to Vietnamese people

In order to meet rising demand, Vietravel has planned to add 100 vacancies in November when is the season of sales-off in the US.

Tran Thi Viet Huong, Vietravel’s communication manager, said that previously there were only few groups who booked tours to these destinations, but that is changing. The company has seen a 15% to 20% increase in the number of tourists going on long overseas trips.

“We’ve recently opened an office in the US and hope to have an office in France soon,” Huong said.

Saigontourist said that tours to far off destinations account for 27% of their total business. The company's marketing manager said, "Prices for a tour to the US or Europe used to be over VND100 million, but now it would only cost VND40 million or VND50 million."

Many people who would have gone to Japan or South Korea in the past are now finding that the US or Europe are within their price range.

Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, communication manager at Ben Thanh Tourist, said the low prices are a result of the global economic downturn,  as it forced airlines to give bargains.