Tourist attractions around Vietnam have begun re-opening their doors after “hibernating” during the COVID-19 outbreak and hope to fully tap into the opportunities brought by the four-day National Reunification Day and International Labour Day holiday from April 30 to May 3.
Vietnam’s Northern province of Quang Ninh decided to allow intra-provincial and inter-provincial public transport services and tourist activities from midday on May 1 on Ha Long Bay and at the Yen Tu relic site, the Quang Ninh Museum, the provincial library, and the Tra Co – Mong Cai national tourism site. The province therefore kick-starts its tourist activities three days earlier than originally planned on May 4. Vietnam News Agency reported.
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The People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province sent to relevant departments, sectors, and localities, from midday on May 1 inter-sectoral COVID-19 prevention and control stations will take the body temperature of all visitors to the province.
In northern Nghe An province – the homeland of the late President Ho Chi Minh – as in previous years, many people have flocked to the Kim Lien relic site during the four-day holiday to pay their respects, as May 19 is the birthday of the leader. According to preliminary figures, the site welcomed around 7,000 people on April 30 and May 1. All had their body temperature taken and washed their hands with antibacterial sanitizer prior to entering the site.
Visitors at Cua Lo Beach, Nghe An province @ VNA
Neighbouring Thanh Hoa province has also seen an impressive number of tourists, especially to its beautiful beaches. Deputy Director of the Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said that, the top priority for the local tourism sector is the safety of tourists and the community. Visitors must abide by all regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control when at tourist attractions.
Particularly, visitors have thronged attractions in Da Lat City, the capital of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, with daily arrivals on Thursday and Friday estimated at 25,000.
Like Da Lat, Phan Thiet City in the coastal south-central province of Binh Thuan has been welcoming swarms of visitors as people flocked to its beautiful beaches for the holiday.
By contrast, the UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary in the central province of Quang Nam have been much less crowded, with few to no tourists spotted on Thursday and Friday despite the sites having reopened. Tuoi Tre Newspaper reported.
Visitors at the UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town @ Vietnam Insider
The beaches in Nha Trang City, however, were empty of people and tourists on Thursday and Friday. The province continues to maintain the suspension of bathing and entertainment, as well as eating and drinking on public beaches
Nha Trang City continues to maintain the suspension of bathing and entertainment, eating and drinking on public beaches.
Meanwhile, beaches along Vung Tau City in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau have been deserted as a ban on beach-going remains effective in the popular beach city.
Visitors still traveled to the city — around 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City — in large numbers but were not allowed to take a swim in its beaches as per the ongoing beach closure.
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According to Vietnam News, as the nationwide social distancing eased, all businesses, hotels, restaurants, cafés, golf courses, and travel agents are allowed to resume operations, while public passenger vehicles are requested to carry half the number of regular passengers per trip and beaches have been asked to monitor any crowding.
Visitors will enjoy free entrance to theImperial Ancient Capital City of Hue Citadel from April 30 to May 7.
Compiling by Vietnam Insider staff