Vietnamese tourists postponed and canceled tours to the Middle East because of fear of war

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Giang (55 years old, Hanoi) has just decided to stop his trip to Dubai scheduled to depart on March 10. This is a gift from the children to the couple. Initially, they planned to go from the 7th day of Tet but postponed it to March. “Although I regret missing the plan with my wife, I had to postpone to ensure maximum safety at this time,” Mr. Giang said.

Concern does not only appear in individuals but is spreading on tourism forums. Many tourists planning to travel to Egypt, transiting in Doha or Dubai, also consider canceling their trips to ensure safety. Some others tried to wait out the situation because they booked a tour in April, but “it was still like sitting on a fire”.

Mr. Truong Minh Tuan, General Director of HVN Travel – a unit specializing in the Dubai market, said the unit has 17 tourist groups scheduled to depart in March and April, each group has about 30 people. Currently, Emirates airline has announced adjustments to flight schedules due to airspace restrictions. “We are trying to coordinate with partners to support customers in rescheduling or refunding according to regulations,” Mr. Tuan said.

At Vietravel, the company currently has 51 customers in Dubai and 24 customers in Egypt. Ms. Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, Director of the Marketing and Communications Department, confirmed that all groups are safe and the schedule is still going as planned. Ms. Khanh commented: “Guest safety is a top priority, we always maintain 24/7 contact with local partners to update the actual situation.”

Faced with complicated developments, on the evening of February 28, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advised Vietnamese citizens not to go to Iran and Israel at the present time, and not to go to neighboring areas affected by the conflict if not absolutely necessary.

On the airline side, Emirates, a major airline in the Middle East, has issued a notice to temporarily suspend the operation of some flights due to the impact of airspace restrictions. The airline said it is assisting passengers in rebooking tickets, refunding or adjusting itineraries when operating conditions allow.

Qatar Airways, another major airline in the Middle East, also announced the suspension of its entire flight network in Doha during the period of operational adjustment. The airline is coordinating with authorities and relevant units to support passengers and will resume operations when security and operating conditions are guaranteed.

Not only Middle East tours, some tourists going to Europe are also affected due to transit in the Middle East. Vietravel representative said there is no plan to cancel all European tours because each trip is evaluated for safety and reviewed based on the airline’s actual operating situation.

In case there is an adjustment to the flight schedule or transfer plan, the company will proactively update and adjust the appropriate program as well as discuss directly with passengers to come up with the optimal plan.

“During this sensitive period, information transparency and respect for tourists’ choices are most important, which is also a way to attract visitors to come back again and again,” Mr. Vu said.

He also advised Vietnamese passengers who are forced to fly through the Middle East (connecting flights at Dubai, Doha or Abu Dhabi to Europe) to be mentally prepared for having to change time, flight route or longer connecting flights. Currently, flights to Dubai for Vietnamese passengers, in addition to Emirates and Qatar, are also suspended until March 2.

Representatives of the travel agencies said they all have experience in handling arising situations, so they did not lose their composure during this incident in the Middle East and always put “guest safety first”. However, Mr. Tuan said the postponement and cancellation of tours also affects travel companies because it is the peak tourist season in Dubai.

“Vietnamese tourists often travel most frequently from October to April, when the Middle East is entering winter and the weather is pleasant,” Mr. Tuan said.

In addition to Southeast Asian and European destinations, Dubai and Middle East tours are gradually becoming markets that attract the attention of Vietnamese tourists. According to a quick survey from Vietnam Tourism Company, in 2025, Vietnamese people traveling to Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE, Qatar, and Jordan “will have a rapidly increasing demand” except for the travel route to Israel, which will almost cease operations from 2023. Each year, HVN Travel brings about 1,000 Vietnamese tourists to Dubai, in 2026 the number of tourists is estimated to increase by 10-15% compared to last year.

Mr. Truong Minh Tuan said Dubai attracts Vietnamese tourists partly thanks to its easy visa application policy and simple procedures. Tourists who buy a tour only need to submit their passport photo and portrait to be able to apply for a visa, the pass rate is as high as 99%. Dubai also attracts Vietnamese tourists to check in at luxurious areas such as gold-plated hotels with Atlantis interiors, the world’s tallest Burj Khalifa tower and the Gold Market. The proportion of middle-aged guests aged 45-55 years accounts for the highest proportion, followed by young guests aged 25-35 years old.

Currently, a tour to Dubai has a 6-day, 5-night itinerary, visiting the two cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, according to Mr. Tuan, priced from 28.9 million VND. The 5-day, 4-night tour costs 26.9 million VND.

“The tour price to Dubai is quite reasonable, so it attracts many Vietnamese tourists,” Mr. Tuan said.