For many people in the capital, the National Day holiday is an opportunity to spend some relaxing time with their families, an ideal time to travel with their children before the new school year starts on September 5. With the crisp weather of fall approaching, the four-day holiday (September 1-4) is a great time for short trips to mountainous areas or beaches about 100km from Hanoi.

National Day holiday is an ideal time to have fun at Bao Son Paradise Theme Park. Photo: The Hanoi Times

For those who cannot afford to travel far, there are plenty of options for them in the capital. Apart from the known-to-all places such as Temple of Literature, Hoan Kiem Lake, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, One Pillar Pagoda, Thu Le Zoo, new places for their amusement have emerged such as the Lotte Mall Tay Ho complex and, Vinhomes Ocean Park.

On this occasion, Bao Son Paradise Theme Park, some 15 km from downtown, offers Colorful Island Festival, including a street carnival, activities in the amusement complex, water park, and many other services.

The festival runs from September 2 to 3. Visitors can immerse themselves in the fun of hula-la dancing, the Aloha Carnival street parade with giant floats such as Magic Waves, tiny pirates, and demigod islands; at the same time, enjoy a series of typical performances such as animal circus, water puppetry, folk songs, and traditional music.

For a four-day vacation, many people choose to visit destinations near Hanoi. Photo: The Hanoi Times

 The newly opened Castaway Lagoon Water Park is a complex with a modern underwater game system that can't be found anywhere else in Hanoi: Five Dragons Fighting for Dominance, Cyclone Octopus, and Tentacle Dance. Happy Farm, Indoor Aquarium, and Safari are also tempting options for families during the four-day weekend.

The holiday is long enough for families to travel to places within 100 km of downtown Hanoi, such as Mai Chau, Moc Chau, Sa Pa, Mu Cang Chai, Haiphong, Ninh Binh, and Quang Ninh, to enjoy the beautiful scenery and convenient transportation. Visitors can buy package tours through travel agencies or organize their own tours to take the initiative in time and save costs.

Visitors can go to the Pearl Island of Cat Ba in the port city of Haiphong on their own or combine it with exploring Ha Long Bay for a full vacation trip. It is accessible by ferry or boat, which is convenient as Cat Ba Island is already touristy.

Cai Chien Island in the northern province of Quang Ninh is not as touristy as Cat Ba Island, but it is a wild place with many beautiful natural landscapes unspoiled by man.

Ha Long Bay is a very popular destination for foreigners. Now tourists can have an enhanced experience while exploring Ha Long Bay on a cruise like Ambassador Signature Cruise.

Tourists get a luxurious experience in Ha Long Bay with the Ambassador Signature Cruise.

 A fresh breeze has been added to the Lan Ha Bay sightseeing and resort experience with 5-star cruises. Visitors can discover the hidden beauty of the "jewel" of the Gulf of Tonkin with a 2-day, 1-night cruise at a discounted price. The cruise will offer high-class services, premium Asian-European cuisine, visit famous landmarks in the bay, and on-cruise recreational activities such as cooking lessons and live music shows.

The beauty of Trang An Complex in the ripe rice season. Photo courtesy of Ninh Binh Department of Tourism

 The Trang An Complex is only about 100 km from Hanoi. Its poetic and majestic beauty will not disappoint visitors. This holiday is the time of the ripe rice season, which will definitely make the landscape spectacular.

Meanwhile, Tran Thi Huong (Ba Dinh District, Hanoi) said her family chose Thanh Thuy Hot Mineral Spring Resort in northern Phu Tho Province instead of traveling to distant and famous tourist destinations such as Da Lat, Danang, Phu Quoc, and Nha Trang.

"This year, the National Day holiday is extended to four days, so many people tend to travel to famous tourist destinations. I think these places will be very crowded and getting to these places would be costly," Huong said.

On the other hand, her children will start a new school year. Going to nearby tourist destinations would save time in traveling and ensure the health of the children when they return to school after the holidays.