The official parade, set for Sept. 2, will have over 16,000 participants, including 43 marching groups, 18 static formations, and 14 military and specialized vehicles.

But the search proved far more difficult than the 27-year-old anticipated after initially thinking that booking months in advance for the Sept. 2 event would be easy. She found that nearly all hotels and guesthouses along the parade route were fully booked.

After a week of searching she finally found a room on Hang Chao Street in O Cho Dua Ward at nearly VND2 million (US$76). The location, close to Ba Dinh Square and the streets expected to host the parade, seemed pretty good.

“I missed the Reunification Day event on April 30 in HCMC, so I couldn’t miss the National Day parade,” says the graduate from Japan who recently returned to Vietnam.

In early August there was another setback when the hotel canceled her booking citing non-payment though the app through which she had reserved the room did not require immediate payment. Frustrated, she resumed her search but found few suitable options. Eventually she booked a room near Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam Ward at double the original price though it lacked the ideal view.

“At this point I’m just happy to find a room. I’ll accept any price.”

Thuy Anh also bought flags, shirts and even camping gear for the event. She plans to leave her accommodation early in the morning and join the crowd at the Hung Vuong – Nguyen Thai Hoc intersection to watch the pageant.

Her experience reflects the high demand for accommodation in central Hanoi during the National Day celebrations. According to data from online booking platform Agoda, searches for Hanoi hotels from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3 jumped by more than 44 times compared to the same period in 2024.

Travel agencies have reported a similar trend. Pham Quoc Khanh, deputy director of a Hanoi-based tour company, told Read that tours offering parade viewing have accounted for 30-40% of domestic tourism sales in HCMC, much higher than normal.

Kieu Chinh, 29, of Long Bien Ward also booked a hotel for her family, including her two young children, to ensure a good viewing spot. Despite living not far from the city center, she feared there could be traffic congestion and limited viewing options.

She began her search on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in late July but eventually booked a homestay near the Temple of Literature for VND1 million per night for her family of four.

She says: “The price is double the normal rate, and I had to pay 100% upfront. But I [did not] someone else would have taken it.”

Needless to say, the demand extends beyond accommodation: Cafés offering parade views are fully booked with locations on Hang Khay, Trang Tien, Trang Thi, and Nguyen Thai Hoc among the most in demand.

By early August Ngoc Anh, 31, of Tu Liem had contacted nearly 10 cafés on central streets, and most required prepayments of VND250,000-300,000 per person, with the price covering one drink. Prime locations near Hoan Kiem Lake demanded up to VND1 million per person.

“The booking rules are very strict. You must transfer payment 100% in advance, and the reservation is only held for 10 minutes past the scheduled time,” Ngoc Anh says. “If you’re late you lose the spot with no refund.”

A recent survey by Read found that all cafés with balconies or terraces overlooking central streets are fully booked for National Day. Some had a few spots left for rehearsals on Aug. 27 and 29, but prices were three to five times higher than usual. Inquiries on social media about parade-view cafés were met almost universally with “no availability.”

A café owner on Hang Khay Street says they receive dozens of calls and messages daily.

“The demand is so high that we direct customers to our fanpage for better management and to prevent overbooking. Despite the high prices, inquiries keep coming.”

Despite the challenges, Ngoc Anh believes it is worth the effort for such a “special day” that comes along rarely.

She has secured five seats at a café on Le Duan Street for VND250,000 per person, excluding drinks, and plans to leave home at 3 a.m. to avoid losing them.

Dr. Le Quy Duc of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics says: “These events give generations, especially younger ones, a chance to honor the past, feel national pride and recognize the struggles our ancestors endured to achieve independence.

“The willingness to make the effort to witness these moments is a vibrant expression of patriotism.”