Weekend holiday might include rain

Some regions are at high risk of receiving heavy downpours due to the influence of wind convergence at the height of 1,500 meters above sea level, Tran Hong Thai, head of the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration, told a meeting on natural disaster prevention in Hanoi on Monday.

He added that tropical cyclones should be expected to form in the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea.

According to the administration, 10-12 storms could form in the East Sea this year, with around half expected to hit mainland Vietnam.

April 30 is Reunification Day and May 1, International Labor Day, both falling on a weekend this year, which means a four-day break.

A survey by VnExpress found that flights at reasonable hours from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to popular tourist hotspots like Quy Nhon, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Da Lat and Con Dao Island have been sold out. Tickets for early morning and late-night flights are still available, but fares are double the norm.