Tourists to overcrowd beaches during long holiday

By Bich Phuong April 27, 2024 | 03:00 pm PT

Tourists wait to board a high-speed boat to Phu Quy Island off Vietnam's south central coast on April 30, 2023. Photo by Vi Chau

With accommodations full of bookings, tourism destinations Vung Tau, Phan Thiet, Phu Quy and Nha Trang, all easily reached by road from HCMC, are expected to be overrun during the five-day holiday which began Saturday.

Hotel occupancy rates in Phu Quy Island, famous for its pristine beaches, lush green landscapes and outstanding seafood, reached 100% from April 24, according to the island’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The island has about 1,200 rooms, accommodating up to 2,000 people.

Bui The Nhan, director of the Department of Tourism of Binh Thuan Province, home to the island, said the island expects to welcome 7,000 visitor arrivals during the Reunification Day (April 30) and Labor Day (May 1) holidays.

In the Ham Tien - Phan Thiet area, occupancy rates between April 27 and 30 have already reached 60-80% after resting at 40-50% on May 1, Nhan added.

Around 220 kilometers from Phan Thiet, the beach resort city of Nha Trang will likely be flooded with holiday crowds as three-to-five-star hotels are 90% full.

The Cam Lam - Vinh Hao Expressway, which opened to traffic on April 26, will help shorten travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang from eight to five hours.

Data from Mustgo, a hotel booking platform cooperating with 80 resorts and hotels, showed occupancy rates at local hotels are 80-90% full between April 26-28 while international 5-star hotels rates are at 50-60%.

In Cam Ranh, a beach resort town near Nha Trang, local five-star hotels have reported occupancy rate of over 90% between April 27 and 29.

A high-end resort in Nha Trang. Photo courtesy of the resort

A representative of Movenpick Cam Ranh said its occupancy rate is increasing and expected to reach 92-95%.

In the southern beach city of Vung Tau, luxury hotels have also reported occupancy rates of over 70% during the first three days of the holiday, while the figure at three-star hotels reached over 80%.

Da Lat and Mang Den in the Central Highlands, with their year-round cool climate, have become top choices for Vietnamese tourists amid the nation’s ongoing crippling heat waves.

Mang Den City, with 1,200 rooms, has recorded an occupancy rate of over 90%.

Contrary to destinations that are convenient for road travel, Quy Nhon, Phu Quoc, and Con Dao which are mainly accessible by air are still waiting for more potential visitors to make reservations.

On Vietnam’s biggest island Phu Quoc, resorts with a large numbers of rooms such as Wyndham Grand Phu Quoc have recorded booking rates of 15-20%, while coastal villas are experiencing more positivity, reaching 70-80% of capacity.

The 16-island Con Dao Archipelago is expected to be less crowded during the holiday due to expensive airfares, and occupancy rates at five-star hotels on the islands have reached less than 50%.

Smaller hotels have recorded a rate of 70-80% between April 27-29.

Currently, only Vietnam Airlines operates flights from Hanoi to Con Dao with one-way tickets costing up to VND8 million (US$315.64) per person.