The Looming Threat of Super Typhoon Yagi: Travel Agencies Scramble to Postpone Tours

As of 11 a.m. today (September 6), the Quang Ninh People’s Committee has announced that the Department of Transportation, Quang Ninh Maritime Port Authority, Inland Waterway Port Authority, and local governments along the coast will cease granting permits for aquatic vehicles to go out to sea as a precaution against Super Typhoon Yagi, also known as Storm No. 3.

In anticipation of the storm’s impact and in compliance with the provincial government’s directives, numerous tourism businesses promptly notified their customers of the cancellation of pre-booked tours.

Ms. Do Thi Lan, CEO of Viethouse Travel, informed VTC News that multiple groups of tourists who had booked tours during this period had their trips canceled, and the company was working diligently to modify their itineraries.

“This morning, the boats going out to sea were primarily tasked with transporting passengers from the islands back to the mainland ahead of the storm. Tourists from islands such as Co To, Quan Lan, Minh Chau, and Cat Ba have already boarded boats back to the mainland. The seas of Hai Phong and Quang Ninh have been completely closed to traffic. We have also notified our customers about the cancellation of pre-sold tours,” Ms. Lan stated.

According to Ms. Lan, the sea ban has significantly impacted tourists, particularly those who had booked overnight cruises on the bay. Consequently, the travel companies have had to pay for onshore hotel accommodations for their customers out of their own pockets.

“In this situation, we have two options. The first is to negotiate with the customers and arrange for them to stay onshore in 4- to 5-star hotels, with the expenses covered by the travel company, matching the quality of the cruise accommodations. The second option is to reschedule the cruise for a post-storm date. However, this option depends on matching the customers’ availability with the cruise ship’s schedule, as they may not have vacancies on the desired date. Therefore, most customers opt for the onshore accommodation alternative,” the CEO of Viethouse Travel explained.

Meanwhile, a representative of a cruise company operating in Ha Long Bay stated that they had already docked their vessels at safe harbors as per the instructions of the authorities since yesterday and had informed their business partners and customers about the cancellation of sea tours.

“Since the storm is expected to hit during the weekend, when we usually have a high number of bookings, we have notified our customers about the cancellations and offered them reasonable compensation. We anticipate that sea tourism activities will resume after the storm passes, likely after September 9,” the representative added.

On travel forums, many individuals expressed their disappointment about the last-minute cancellation of their tours. However, recognizing the force of nature, they also displayed understanding regarding the necessity of these precautions.

“I was busy during the recent holiday and couldn’t take my family on a vacation then. We had planned to make up for it this weekend, but unfortunately, it coincides with the storm. We have no choice but to cancel our trip. Thankfully, the travel company assured us that they would reschedule this itinerary for another date,” shared Mr. Phan Van Thien from Hanoi.

According to a report by the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, as of 5 p.m. on September 5, all tourists staying on the islands within the province had been notified about Storm No. 3 and ensured safety.

Currently, there are 13 tourists staying on the islands of Van Don and Co To districts, including 2 Vietnamese and 11 foreign visitors. They are all safely accommodated in hotels and guesthouses. Additionally, there are 1,691 tourists staying on Ha Long Bay, comprising 91 Vietnamese and 1,600 international visitors.

“The local authorities have advised tourists on safety measures during storms. Tourists staying on Ha Long Bay will be brought back to the mainland before 11 a.m. on September 6, as per the provincial government’s directive,” the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism stated.

On September 5, during a meeting on storm response with various ministries, sectors, and 22 localities, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha instructed that, by noon on September 6, all tourists and visitors in storm-prone areas must be compulsorily evacuated to safe places.

“Based on the forecasts and my personal assessment, I believe this storm will be more complex and challenging due to the favorable thermal conditions in the area it is approaching. Since yesterday, it has intensified into a super typhoon,” the Deputy Prime Minister remarked.

He also requested that the meteorological agency enhance their forecasting bulletins, providing not only storm forecasts but also predictions of hydrometeorological conditions, post-storm circulations, flash floods, landslides, etc.

“Based on these forecasts, the meteorological agency should regularly update maps indicating the risk of flash floods, landslides, and geological discontinuities, enabling the timely evacuation of residents. By noon tomorrow (September 6), tourists and visitors in vulnerable areas must be compulsorily brought to safe places. If persuasion fails, enforcement must be employed,” the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized.