Vietnamese Tourists Flock to South Korea for Skiing: Why Demand Surged by 40% This Tet Holiday

Vietnam’s biggest holiday, Tet (Lunar New Year), runs from February 14 to 22 this year. Expect a surge in local tourists heading to Korean ski resorts. Despite hefty price tags of several million KRW per person, demand for Korean ski tours has skyrocketed by 40% compared to last year. This trend is now a major driver of growth in the Northeast Asian travel market. Vietnamese consumers are shifting from simply relaxing during holidays to seeking out unique experiences.

According to Phu Tho, the official newspaper of the Vietnam Communist Party, there’s been a dramatic increase in Vietnamese tourists wanting to see snow this year. Vietnam’s tropical climate means locals never see snow, which explains the ski travel craze. Pham Van Bai, deputy director of Viettravel, notes that ski experiences and winter festivals are now the main reasons people choose these trips.

Take My Hoang from Ho Chi Minh City, for example. She initially planned a Tet trip to Harbin, China, but found everything booked solid by early January. Most packages were gone by late last year. She had to switch to a ski tour at Jiakun Mountain in Guqiao, China – over 4,000 meters high – but even that was nearly full.

On the flip side, Phuong Linh’s family from Hanoi scored a trip to Korea. They’re set for a week-long adventure including Seoul, Pyeongchang, and the Taebaeksan and Sobaeksan National Parks. Phuong Linh raved, “The snowy mountains and roads in Korea are breathtakingly different from anything in Vietnam.”

Viettravel Hanoi reports that ski packages to Korea, China, and Japan range from 20 million to 40 million VND (about 1.12 million to 2.25 million KRW or 840 to 1,687.5 USD), all showing strong growth. Korea’s especially popular due to shorter flights and reasonable prices, with a whopping 40% increase from last year. That’s way ahead of Japan’s 10% bump and China’s 10-15% rise.

When it comes to bang for your buck, Korea’s the clear winner. Best Price offers Korean ski packages from Ho Chi Minh City starting at just 18 million VND (about 1.01 million KRW or 757.5 USD), while Japan kicks off at 50 million VND (about 2.81 million KRW or 2,107.5 USD) and Harbin, China at 30 million VND (about 1.69 million KRW or 1,267.5 USD). This February, Korea’s got about nine different packages, including themed tours with 4-night, 5-day ski adventures. One happy customer, Kwen An, gushed, “Seeing snow for the first time was amazing! I stumbled through skiing but felt so proud when I finally got it.”

Other options? PSY Travel’s got Elysian ski resort tours from Hanoi starting at 19 million VND (about 1.07 million KRW or 802.5 USD), while Vietluxtour offers a Korea-China combo trip from 20 million VND (about 1.12 million KRW or 840 USD). The winter travel high season runs from December through late February, according to travel agencies.

In Korea, ski resorts near Seoul like Elysian Gangchon are hot spots for Vietnamese visitors. They’re easy to reach from the capital and offer the whole package: gear rentals, newbie lessons, sightseeing, shopping, and foodie experiences. Even a quick 5-day trip packs in plenty of fun, making it perfect for smaller groups. Lien Nguyen, a Hanoi tourist, shared, “I wiped out a bunch learning to ski in Korea, but I nailed it in the end! That’s what makes these trips so awesome.”

Next door in Japan, it’s all about top-notch snow and jaw-dropping views. Fujiten Snow Resort near Mount Fuji is a hit with both rookies and pros. Those looking to splurge often go for luxury resorts in Japan to soak in hot springs surrounded by snow.

This Tet, Northeast Asia is the place to be for Vietnamese travelers. Trips to Korea, China, and Japan make up 60-70% of all overseas travel, with over half being ski-focused. Experts predict that snowy getaways will remain a major holiday trend for Vietnamese tourists in the coming years.