Bucking the general trend, many Hanoi residents chose to stay in the capital during this year's four-day National Day holiday.

A road full of vehicles carrying people on their way out of Hanoi. Photo: Pham Cong/The Hanoi Times

Le Thi Nga, a worker at Yamaha Motor Vietnam, said her family decided to stay in Hanoi to save costs.

They currently live in the Kim Chung Workers' Housing Complex in Kim Chung Commune, Dong Anh District, Hanoi.

"My husband and I are from Thanh Hoa and Tuyen Quang provinces, so going home would be very expensive," she said.

"We don't have any plans to travel," she told the Lao Dong (Labor) newspaper.

Le Van Sy, a worker at Thang Long Industrial Park, also opted to stay in the capital for the holiday.

"Travelling home during the holidays means struggling to book a ride, and dealing with crowds and traffic jams. So I decided to stay, which gives me more time to rest and recharge, and saves me money," he said.

During the four-day break, Sy spent three days resting and relaxing and one day with friends. He plans to visit his family at the end of the month when travel costs and traffic congestion are lighter.

Nguyen Lan Nhi, from the northern province of Ha Giang, said that even though her company offered a four-day holiday this year, her family of four decided not to leave town for the holiday.

"Our income is limited and travelling back home would be expensive. It is also very costly to go out during these days, so we choose to stay at home," said Nhi, who works at Bac Thang Long Industrial Park.

Nguyen Van Hieu, an employee in Ha Dong district, said he had no plans to visit his hometown or travel this year.

"The opportunity cost is too high. Meanwhile, all destinations are overcrowded, so the quality of service is not guaranteed," Hieu told The Hanoi Times.

"Staying in Hanoi is a good option. Hanoi is famous for its beauty in the fall."

According to local media, roads connecting Hanoi to neighboring provinces were severely congested with a significant increase in traffic compared to normal days.

This is understandable as this year workers enjoyed a four-day holiday (from August 31 to September 3) for National Day (September 2).

A large number of migrant workers in Hanoi intended to return home for family reunions, while others saw it as an opportunity to travel to recharge for the coming period.

Increased income during the holiday

The holiday is also an opportunity for workers to earn double or triple their usual income.

Cao Mai Trang, 19, decided not to return to her home in Bac Ninh province but to work extra shifts during the four-day holiday.

She says her colleagues have made the same choice.

Although it's exhausting, Trang is happy with her decision because of the income she earned during the holiday.

"After tiring shifts, I'll use the free time to hang out with friends or buy something I like," Trang said.

Nguyen Duc Tien, 23, decided to work extra shifts at a garment shop during the holidays.

He said the money he earned, which tripled during the holidays, would help him pay for short courses he had long wanted to take.

"I will make up for it by going out in the following days because during holidays, entertainment and dining places are often crowded and stuffy," he said.

Nguyen Dinh Bac, a ride-hailing driver, also stayed at work during the National Day holiday to earn extra income and cover living expenses.

With everyone, including family and friends, wanting to travel, most destinations are too crowded, he said.

Costs and prices are significantly higher and there are fewer customers than on normal days, Bac added.

"But we see a big increase in booking just before and at the end of the holiday when the demand for travel picks up," the driver said.

"As demand is high while other migrant drivers have returned home, it's an opportunity for us to get more rides and earn extra income," he said.