Tet Travel Booking: Trains, Flights and Buses Early

Tet travel booking should start now, because Tet falls on Saturday, January 28, and the best seats on trains, flights and buses go first. If you have no ticket yet, buy this week. If you already have one, use this page to check it and plan a backup.

Why early booking matters

Almost everyone travels at the same time. Families go home before the holiday and return right after it. That puts the heaviest demand on a few days. Tickets for those days sell out first, and prices on flights tend to rise as seats fill.

The public holiday rules come from Article 115 of the Labour Code of 2012. The exact days off can change from year to year, so check the official notice from the labour authorities before you pick dates. Your days off decide which days are busiest.

Sources: Labour Code of Vietnam, Law No. 10/2012/QH13, Article 115 (public holidays); Government notice on the 2017 Lunar New Year holiday (baochinhphu.vn), for the Tet date.

A simple booking timeline

Use this order. It works for any long trip during the holiday.

• Now: pick your outbound and return dates. Write down two backup dates.
• Same day: check train tickets, flights and bus seats for all three dates.
• Within two days: buy the best option. Do not wait for a cheaper price.
• One week before: check your booking again and save the ticket on your phone and on paper.
• The day before: confirm the departure time and the station, airport or bus yard.

Travel a day or two before the busiest days if your work allows it. Tickets on those days are easier to find, and the roads and stations are calmer.

Trains, flights and buses compared

Each type of transport has strengths. Pick the one that fits your route and your budget.

Trains suit long routes along the coast. You can bring more luggage and you do not need to reach a station hours early. Flights save the most time on long trips, such as between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Airports are crowded in the holiday week, so leave extra time to get there. Buses reach towns that trains and planes do not. They are also the most likely to run extra trips when demand is high.

Whatever you choose, keep the trip simple. Fewer changes mean fewer chances to miss a connection on a crowded day.

Where to buy, and how to avoid unofficial sellers

Buy from the carrier itself. For trains, that means the ticket counters at railway stations and the railway's own online sales site. For flights, use the airline's website or its own offices. For buses, use the bus company's own ticket office or hotline.

Around Tet, some people sell tickets on the street or on social media at a higher price. Some tickets are fake. Protect yourself with these checks.

• Ask for the company name, the train or flight number, the date and the seat on the ticket.
• Check that your name is on the ticket where the carrier requires it.
• Be careful of sellers who ask you to pay by transfer before you see anything.
• Call the carrier's hotline with the booking details and ask them to confirm it.
• Keep every receipt and message until the trip is over.

If a price looks far too low for a holiday week, treat that as a warning, not a bargain.

Sources: Vietnam Railways, vr.com.vn.

What to do if tickets are sold out

Do not give up after the first search. Try these steps in order.

• Change your date by one or two days, in either direction.
• Switch the type of transport, for example from train to bus.
• Look at nearby stations or airports and travel the last part by road.
• Check the carrier's site again each morning. Cancelled tickets return to sale.
• Ask your employer if you can work remotely for a day or leave a day earlier.

If you must travel on the busiest day, leave early in the morning. Pack water and snacks, and keep your phone charged.

A short checklist for travel day

Carry your identity card or passport. Foreign residents should carry their passport and residence card. Bring cash in small notes, because some small stops do not take cards. Arrive early at the station, airport or bus yard, because queues are long in the holiday week. Tell a family member your route and your arrival time, so they know when to expect you.

Also check weather and road news on the morning you leave. Rain and heavy traffic can delay buses and slow the road to the airport. A short delay is easier to handle when you have left early.

This guide is general information to help you plan. Always follow the carrier's own rules and the official holiday notice.

Sources: Labour Code of Vietnam, Law No. 10/2012/QH13, Article 115; Vietnam Railways, vr.com.vn.