Tết 2026 Car Rental Vietnam: Book 6 Weeks Ahead — Complete Guide

When is Tết 2026?

Tết Nguyên Đán 2026 (Lunar New Year) falls on Thursday, January 29, 2026, with the official public holiday running January 29 through February 4, 2026 (Thursday through Wednesday). Many Vietnamese businesses close for an extended 7-10 day period, starting as early as January 26 and reopening on February 5-8.

This is Vietnam's biggest annual event — family reunions, domestic travel, and a complete economic pause. For car rental, it means demand tripling, prices surging 40-80%, and inventory selling out 4-6 weeks before Tết.

Why demand surges during Tết

• Vietnamese domestic travel: families return to hometowns en masse. Rental cars replace inadequate bus/train options for multi-stop family visits.


• International tourism peaks: Chinese Lunar New Year (Feb 17, 2026 — two weeks after Vietnam's Tết) overlaps with Vietnamese Tết demand, driving Mandarin-speaking tourists to Vietnam. Korean and Japanese holidays also cluster in this window.


• Airport transfer demand quadruples: Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai see 3-4x normal traffic volumes January 27-February 3.


• Driver availability tightens: drivers also want to be with their families. Our fleet operates on a rotation; only 40-50% of our driver pool works through Tết week.

Pricing: what to expect

Tết week rental rates run approximately:

• Airport transfer (flat rate): +40% surcharge. Sedan SGN transfer usually USD 20, during Tết USD 28-30.


• Daily self-drive: +30-50%. Compact sedan normally USD 35/day, Tết USD 50-55.


• With-driver daily: +50-80%. Sedan-with-driver normally USD 65/day, Tết USD 100-115.


• Multi-day packages: less surge (typically +25-40%) because we lock in driver availability in advance.

Long-term rentals (monthly) straddling Tết are not surge-priced if booked before December 15. This is the loophole for long-stay visitors.

Which cities stay open?

Major tourist destinations remain operational through Tết:

• Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang: international tourism keeps these running. Restaurants, hotels, and our branches operate normally (though expect reduced staff on Days 1-3 of Tết).


• Hoi An, Hue, Nha Trang: resort-focused. Most hotels operate; many authentic local restaurants close for 3-5 days.


• Phu Quoc, Da Lat: tourism-heavy, mostly open. Some Vietnamese-run businesses close 2-3 days.


• Sapa, Mai Chau, Ha Giang: more impacted. Some homestays close to host family gatherings. Trekking guides may be unavailable. Book accommodation carefully.

Booking timeline

For Tết 2026, this is the timeline we recommend:

• Before Dec 1, 2025: book airport transfers. Tết-week transfers at normal prices become very scarce after this date.


• Dec 1-15: book multi-day rentals. Selection starts thinning; popular vehicle classes (7-seaters especially) book out first.


• Dec 15 - Jan 10: still possible, but expect limited choice and surge pricing.


• Jan 10-27: last-minute only. Likely only premium-priced options available; may need to accept driver-less cars only.


• Jan 27-Feb 4: effectively fully booked. No new bookings accepted for Tết week except existing clients with priority.

What to avoid during Tết

• One-way drop-offs: return repositioning is hard during Tết. Plan round-trip itineraries where possible.


• Complex multi-city routes: inter-city traffic Jan 28-31 can be 3-4x slower than normal due to everyone returning home simultaneously.


• Budget accommodation in smaller cities: Vietnamese-run places close. International chains (Accor, Marriott, Wyndham) stay open.


• Assumption that shops/services are open: convenience stores close early on Tết Eve (Jan 28) and reopen slowly. Stock up on snacks, water, fuel before Tết.

Alternative: travel around Tết

If flexibility allows, traveling December 15-January 25 or February 10-28 brackets Tết week. Both periods have normal pricing and full service availability. The second week of February (after Tết) sees still-fresh decorations in cities and reopening restaurants — it's arguably the best pure-tourism window of Q1.

Our Tết 2026 commitment

We maintain 24/7 English-speaking support through Tết, including Day 1 (Jan 29). Airport transfers run without gaps (we pre-position drivers). Roadside assistance is available across the HCMC, Hanoi, and Da Nang metros. For any Tết week booking confirmed before December 15, we guarantee a same-class vehicle or free upgrade.

Book your Tết 2026 rental before December 15, 2025 for normal pricing + guaranteed availability.