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SINGAPORE, Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda and the Kaohsiung City Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support Kaohsiung's goals to elevate its profile as a global travel destination.  

As Taiwan's most important gateway to the south, Kaohsiung is strengthening its position as an international destination with a rich mix of culture, food, events, and urban experiences to share with a wider audience. With the city's growing calendar of large-scale concerts and signature events drawing international visitors, Agoda sees an opportunity to help Kaohsiung capture and convert this demand—connecting event-driven travel interest with accommodation offerings through targeted marketing campaigns.

Through this partnership, Agoda will support Kaohsiung's tourism priorities by leveraging its global platform reach, travel-market insights, and digital-marketing expertise to help turn the city's story into practical traveler discovery. The collaboration aims to enhance Kaohsiung's international presence through co-branded marketing initiatives on Agoda's platform, market and tourism insight exchanges, and digital training workshops that build local industry capabilities. 

Jun Dong, Supply Vice President at Agoda, said, "Kaohsiung has transformed from a traditional port town into one of Taiwan's most exciting destinations—its harbor views, thriving arts scene, culinary culture, and booming concert and events economy make it a city that today's travelers are eager to explore. We're proud to formalize our relationship with the Kaohsiung City Government and help bring this city's story to a global audience. As more travelers venture beyond well-known landmarks into regional gems across Taiwan, we see tremendous opportunities to support destinations like Kaohsiung in reaching the right travelers at the right time."

Lin Chin-Rong, Deputy Mayor of Kaohsiung, added, "Kaohsiung is no longer Taiwan's best-kept secret—it's a destination ready for the world stage. From our harbor-front transformations and international-caliber events to hosting major international artists and our signature annual celebrations featuring beloved global IP characters, we have a story that resonates with modern travelers. Partnering with Agoda gives us the global platform, data intelligence, and digital expertise to turn that story into real visitor arrivals, while ensuring our accommodation sector is equipped to deliver world-class experiences."

As part of this collaboration, Agoda will produce the inaugural Taiwan edition of Agoda Dialogues—a filmed conversation with the Mayor of Kaohsiung city unveiling the city's tourism vision, international positioning, and what makes Kaohsiung a unique travel experience. The interview will be distributed across Agoda's channels in October 2026.

The partnership comes at a time of strong momentum for the city—Agoda data shows Kaohsiung is one of the fastest-growing destinations in Taiwan based on searches by Southeast Asian travelers, boasting a 65% increase in travel interest compared to last year. Kaohsiung is also among the most-searched destinations in Taiwan among European travelers. The trend signals a broader shift toward regional exploration as more international travelers look to explore Taiwan beyond its traditional urban centers.

With over 6 million holiday properties and an expansive array of flight routes and activities, Agoda enables travelers to experience Kaohsiung's allure seamlessly. Travelers can discover the city's featured properties at https://www.agoda.com/playtheharborTW.

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SOURCE Agoda

SINGAPORE, Sept. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital travel platform Agoda has revealed the most-searched domestic and international destinations among Vietnamese travelers for the upcoming National Day holiday. Da Nang tops the domestic ranking, while Bangkok leads the international list.

Vietnamese travelers will have five consecutive days off from 29 August to 2 September for this year's National Day holiday, providing an extended opportunity to plan trips within Vietnam or travel abroad. Based on accommodation searches made on Agoda between 1 May and 31 July 2026, for stays between 28 August and 2 September 2026, the top 10 most-searched domestic and international destinations are:

Domestic Travel: Coastal Getaways Lead Domestic Searches

With the National Day holiday falling toward the end of summer, the five-day break offers Vietnamese travelers one of the last opportunities of the season to enjoy coastal getaways and cooler destinations before autumn begins.

Based on accommodation searches, Da Nang and Nha Trang take the top two spots, while Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Phu Quoc Island and Ha Long Bay rank fourth, sixth, ninth and tenth, respectively. Together, coastal and island destinations account for six of the ten most-searched domestic destinations, giving travelers plenty of options for a seaside escape over the five-day holiday.

Da Lat ranks third and is the highest-ranked highland destination on the list. With its cooler climate, scenic surroundings and relaxed atmosphere, the city offers an alternative for travelers looking to enjoy milder weather during the late-summer break.

Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi place fifth and seventh, respectively, showing that major urban destinations also remain part of travelers' holiday considerations. Both cities offer a broad range of dining, shopping, entertainment and cultural experiences for those looking to explore closer to home during the extended break.

Hue rounds out the mix in eighth place, adding a heritage-focused destination to the ranking. Home to the UNESCO-listed Complex of Hue Monuments, the former imperial capital offers visitors a combination of history, architecture and cultural experiences. During this year's National Day holiday, Hue is also set to host Hue Wonderverse Music Fest 2026 from 30 August to 1 September, bringing contemporary music and cultural programming into the city's heritage setting.

Outbound Travel: Urban Destinations Lead International Searches

For travelers looking beyond Vietnam, city destinations feature prominently in international searches for the Vietnam National Day holiday, accounting for nine of the ten most-searched destinations. The ranking spans major cities across both Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, with Bali the only island destination in the top ten.

Bangkok, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur represent Southeast Asia in the ranking, offering travelers a mix of food, shopping, entertainment and cultural experiences. Further north, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei, Shanghai and Hong Kong also feature in the list, providing a range of city-break options that combine modern attractions with local cuisine and cultural landmarks.

Bali stands apart from the predominantly urban ranking as the only island destination in the top ten. In addition to its beaches, the destination offers nature, wellness, local culture and dining experiences, giving travelers another option for an extended holiday that combines relaxation with exploration.

Famous for its vibrant atmosphere and multicultural character, Osaka rounds out the top ten and serves as a convenient gateway to the wider Kansai region, allowing travelers to combine a city break with visits to nearby cultural destinations such as Kyoto and Nara.

Mr. Vu Ngoc Lam, Country Director, Vietnam, Agoda, said: "Agoda's search data shows that Vietnamese travelers are considering a diverse range of destinations for the National Day holiday, from coastal, highland and urban destinations within Vietnam to popular destinations across Asia. With five consecutive days off, travelers have greater flexibility to plan trips that suit their schedules, budgets and preferred experiences. At Agoda, we aim to make travel planning easier by providing travelers with a wide range of accommodation, flight and activity options to make confident travel decisions."

With over 6 million properties, 130,000 flight routes, and 300,000 activities available in one seamless booking experience, Agoda is well positioned to support Vietnamese travelers as they plan their holiday getaways, making it easier to discover destinations that offer both convenience and meaningful experiences, while adapting to evolving travel preferences in the months ahead. Find out more via Agoda's website or mobile app.

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SOURCE Agoda