Tourist destinations not crowded as heat wave deters revelers

With temperatures approaching 40 degrees Celsius in many places, visitors at many destinations said they are not crowded as they had imagined.

In Hai Phong, tourists still flocked to Cat Ba Island on Sunday but there was no congestion at a major wharf unlike during most holidays.

Trinh Thi Hong Hanh, a tourist, said she spent around 30 minutes waiting for the ferry to the island after buying the ticket, and "quickly" reached the island.

The waiting time was "brief" compared to during previous holidays, she said.

In Hoi An in central Vietnam, there were few of the normal scenes of tourists jostling on the streets.

As temperatures reached 39 degrees in the ancient town during the first two days of the holidays (Saturday and Sunday), the streets were almost empty during the day and most tourists only ventured out after 5 p.m.

Tourists take boat tours along the Hoai River in Hoi An City, April 28, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Dac Thanh

There is no official data yet but tourism insiders said the number of tourists to Hoi An is less than last year when there was again a five-day break for the Reunification Day-Labor Day holidays.

Da Lat town in the Central Highlands too has not seen the usual big crowds, but for a different reason: many tourists are seeking a more relaxing experience at farmstays in another mountain town nearby, Bao Loc.

Do Trong Huan, 25, of HCMC said he is going on a camping trip to a farmstay in Bao Loc to be closer to nature and away from the crowds.

Phu Quoc also shows no signs of overcrowding, with the number of visitors to the island declining due to high flight ticket prices.

Truong Phu Quoc, a local tour guide, reported that most tourist destinations were nearly deserted. The downtown streets were quiet, and popular spots like Dinh Cau Beach had few visitors, predominantly locals.

Many freelance tour guides on the island noted their schedules were largely empty, serving only a few individual groups and no full-package tours. The majority of tour bookings came from Korean and Taiwanese tourists, with very few Vietnamese visitors.

Dinh Cau Beach on the afternoon of April 28, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Phu Quoc

On Sunday beach town Vung Tau near HCMC reported an increase in the number of visitors by 6,000 from last year to 74,000. But Phan Trong Hanh, a city official, said without elaborating that the intense heat has affected tourists’ beach activities.

Le Ha, a tourist from nearby Dong Nai, said she has visited Vung Tau many times but this was the first time she felt it was "too hot" in the afternoon.

The five-day break for Reunification Day and Labor Day is from April 27 to May 1.