Airfares from Hanoi to Bangkok have surged by 50-100% compared to regular rates as Thailand’s men’s soccer team is set to play Vietnam in the ASEAN Cup finals this week.
On Tuesday morning Vietravel Airlines sold a roundtrip ticket between the two cities at nearly VND12 million (US$470), double that of a normal day. Tickets for Saturday flights have already sold out.
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Vietnamese players celebrate after scoring a goal in a match against Singapore in Phu Tho Province in northern Vietnam on Jan. 29, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Hien Luong |
Vietnam will play Thailand in the first leg of the finals on Thursday and the second leg in on Sunday.
Budget airline Vietjet sells roundtrip tickets starting from VND6.5 million, up 60% from Sunday.
The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines offers roundtrip tickets at VND15 million.
The state-owned airpline plans to use the wide-body airliners, such as the Boeing 787 or Airbus A350, instead of the regular narrow-body jets, to cater to Vietnamese soccer fans traveling to Thailand to watch the matches.
A wide-body jet can transport over 300 passengers, 100-120 more than a narrow-body aircraft.
Foreign airlines, however, have not made major changes to their prices for the Hanoi–Bangkok route.
Air Asia now offers roundtrip tickets at around VND4.3 million for flights departing late Saturday and returning two days later.
For the HCMC–Bangkok route, roundtrip prices vary across airlines, with Bamboo Airways charging around VND5 million, Vietjet at VND6 million, Vietravel Airlines at VND12 million, and Vietnam Airlines at VND14 million.
Some tour operators are reserving tickets for all-inclusive tours from Vietnam to Thailand for the Sunday match.
Several companies are also offering trips as end-of-year gifts for customers or employees.
