Vietnam’s accommodation market is buzzing with change, and as a Domestic Management Company, Vietone Travel is right in the thick of it, curating tours and securing hotel deals for European and Russian travel agents. With new Airbnb laws, a flood of fresh inventory, and shifting demand, the landscape’s evolving fast. Here’s what’s happening, how it’s shaking up price and availability, and why our expertise keeps you ahead of the curve.
Hotels: new rooms, new dynamics
Vietnam’s hotel sector is on a tear, growing from simple guesthouses to over 38,000 properties with 700,000 rooms by 2024. Fueled by the 2019 high of 18 million visitors, big names like Accor and local giants like Vinpearl have piled into Hanoi, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc. In 2023, hotel revenue hit $2.5 billion, and here’s the kicker: 40,000 new rooms are slated to come online by 2030. That’s an enormous wave of inventory we’re tracking daily.
This flood impacts price and availability big-time. Short-term, oversupply could soften rates—good news for your budget-conscious clients. But as tourism climbs toward 18 million in 2025, demand from Europe and Russia (up 20-80% since 2022) will tighten peak-season bookings. We’re on top of it, locking in hotel options before the crunch hits.
Motels: a small footnote
Motels are a low-key presence, offering $10-$20 stays along highways for domestic travelers (101.3 million trips in 2023). They’re not a focus for European or Russian agents booking curated tours—too basic, too local. They’ll keep chugging along with domestic spending projected at 110 billion VND by 2025, but they don’t move the needle on price or availability for your market.
Homestays: affordable charm under watch
Homestays have exploded from rural outliers to thousands of listings in spots like Sapa and the Mekong Delta. At $20-$40 a night, they’re a budget-friendly draw for cultural tours—think village stays paired with your itineraries. Domestic demand propped them up during Covid, and they’re now catching international eyes too.
“Homestays keep prices low while delivering Vietnam’s soul—perfect for tours that blend value and vibe.”
New rental rules tied to Airbnb’s crackdown might nudge some homestays to formalize, raising costs slightly. Availability’s still solid, but urban options could thin out. We’re monitoring this closely—new homestay supply keeps popping up, and we’re ready to weave it into your affordable tour packages.
Airbnb: laws shift the flow
Airbnb blasted onto the scene with 80,000 listings by 2020, from $15 huts to $150 villas. It grabbed 10-20% of stays pre-Covid, but late 2024 laws—mandatory registration, taxes, and safety checks with fines up to 25 million VND ($1,000)—are slamming the brakes. Urban listings face apartment bans, potentially dropping 20-30% by 2026 as hosts bail.
“Airbnb’s urban squeeze is pushing travelers our way—hotels are soaking up demand, and we’ve got the best picks.”
This shrinks short-term rental options, funneling travelers to hotels and homestays. Prices might dip briefly as hotels compete, but availability tightens in cities like HCMC—another reason we’re tracking every new room coming online.
Price and availability drivers
The market’s a balancing act. That massive 40,000-room hotel surge could ease prices short-term, especially off-season, but compliance costs (Airbnb’s fallout, homestay upgrades) might lift rates by 2030. Demand’s the wildcard—European and Russian arrivals are rebounding, and with 66% of bookings online by 2029, peak periods will book out fast. Seasonal shifts matter too: your winter escapees flood Phu Quoc, tightening supply when they need it most.
Your playbook: how we’ve got this covered
As your hotel experts in Vietnam, we’re all over these shifts for European and Russian agents. Demand’s tilting from short-term rentals to hotels and homestays—watch how Airbnb’s urban decline boosts hotel bookings, especially in peak winter months. That enormous new inventory—40,000 hotel rooms, plus fresh homestays—is our radar screen, keeping prices competitive and options plentiful for your tours. We’re tracking availability swings, from Hanoi’s city buzz to rural retreats, so your curated itineraries stay seamless and cost-effective. Online booking trends mean speed’s key—we’re ahead of the curve, securing spots before they vanish. Vietnam’s accommodation rush is our playground; we’re on top of it, ensuring your clients get the best value every time.
