This year's Chuseok holiday was shorter than last year's, leading to a surge in demand among South Koreans for overseas travel to nearby destinations within a five-hour flight. Da Nang and Nha Trang in Vietnam have emerged as popular choices, with Da Nang City preparing over 5,000 gifts and discounts aimed at Korean tourists.
According to local reports from Vietnam, the Chuseok holiday lasted from September 24 to 26 this year, prompting South Korean travelers to favor destinations with shorter travel times. Unlike last year's week-long holiday, this year's shorter break has highlighted the demand for locations with direct flights and shorter flight durations.
A survey by Skyscanner revealed a 92.4% increase in searches for flights departing from South Korea compared to the previous year. However, the average travel duration was only 3.3 days, indicating a strong desire for quick getaways.
On the first day of the Chuseok holiday, a flight from Incheon to Da Nang experienced a delay of nearly three hours due to a fire believed to have originated from a battery in a passenger's bag just before takeoff.
On September 24, around 9 p.m., Air Seoul flight RS511, scheduled to depart from Incheon International Airport to Da Nang, encountered a fire in a bag placed under a passenger seat. Crew members quickly extinguished the flames, and fire authorities were dispatched to assess the situation and check on the health of the passengers.
The aircraft was carrying 221 passengers and seven crew members, with some passengers reporting respiratory issues, but no one was transported to the hospital, and there were no injuries. After the fire, all passengers disembarked, and Air Seoul conducted safety checks and replaced the aircraft. The flight eventually departed approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes late.
The bag that caught fire contained a battery stored in a separate pouch. Air Seoul and fire authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire, with initial findings suggesting the battery may have been the source.
Da Nang Welcomes Korean Tourists with 5,000 Gifts
Da Nang City has organized special events to attract the increasing number of Korean tourists. From September 21 to 27, the city held the 'I Love Da Nang' program, offering over 5,000 gifts and discount vouchers to Korean visitors.
Gifts included fabric bags, lanterns, and keychains, along with discount vouchers for food, transportation, and entertainment. Korean tourists could receive gifts by presenting their passports or flight tickets and posting photos on Instagram as instructed.
Da Nang's efforts to target the Korean market stem from the significant role South Korea plays in the local tourism industry. From January to August this year, approximately 6.9 million foreign tourists visited Da Nang, a 26% increase compared to the same period last year. Among them, South Koreans accounted for 20.3%, maintaining their position as the largest tourist market by nationality.
This year, Da Nang has continued its promotional activities to attract Korean tourists, participating in the Daegu Chicken and Beer Festival to promote tourism and hosting promotional events in South Korea, including a partnership agreement with the Busan Tourism Organization. The Chuseok event is seen as an extension of these efforts to engage the Korean market.
Nha Trang is also capturing the short-term overseas travel demand from South Korean tourists. With direct flight routes and a variety of leisure facilities, it has become a favored destination for quick getaways, ranking higher than Da Nang in recent flight search queries for the Chuseok holiday.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.