Vietnam the new Bali?

Media release: 13 November 2015

Vietnam the new Bali?

This morning’s announcement that Air New Zealand will begin flying directly to Ho Chi Minh from next year is a response to Vietnam’s growing popularity as a holiday destination for Kiwis, according to House of Travel.

House of Travel Commercial Director Brent Thomas says he is expecting the new flight route to be more skewed towards Kiwis travelling to Vietnam, as opposed to tourists entering New Zealand.

“Unlike parts of Australia such as Sydney and Melbourne, in New Zealand we don’t have a large Vietnamese population. From our perspective, the new flight route from Air New Zealand isn’t targeting those wanting to visit friends and family or travel for business purposes – it’s a response to Vietnam’s surge in popularity for Kiwi holidays,” he says.

“This is supported by the fact that the new route is a seasonal service. If we estimate 700 seats per week are available over five months, we reckon we’ll see around 10,000 Kiwis taking advantage of this new flight route and heading over to Vietnam.”

Thomas says this new flight route is likely to open up more of Vietnam to compete with popular holiday destinations such as Thailand and Bali.

“Much like Thailand or Bali, Vietnam is becoming a go-to holiday spot for New Zealanders. At the moment, Vietnam seems to be more of an adventure destination. We believe the direct flight to Ho Chi Minh is likely to open up the central Vietnam beaches, to become more of a relaxation destination.

“Vietnam is a mid-haul flight, making it attractive for families and couples who are looking for a destination different from where they have been before. Vietnam is becoming more of a mainstream holiday destination, which is really exciting for Kiwis.”

House of Travel is the largest New Zealand owned and operated retail travel company, with 73 stores throughout New Zealand, from Kerikeri in the north to Invercargill in the south.

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