Big discounts allow local tourists to swap Covid crisis for luxury living

Five-star Topas Ecolodge in the northern province of Lao Cai, home to famed Sa Pa Town, is offering a 50 percent discount for local residents from now until Sept. 30 with room rates from only VND3.5 million ($152.27), including a one night stay in a Premium Executive Bungalow for two guests, buffet breakfast and free transport.

Surcharges of VND1 million per person apply for Friday and Saturday nights. In addition, the resort also provides a 30 percent discount for spa treatment.

Just 15 kilometers from downtown Sa Pa, Topas Ecolodge has been named a top eco-friendly resort by National Geographic. Prices here normally start at VND7 million($303.75) a night.

Some hotels in Ha Long, home to the world-famous bay of the same name, in the northern province of Quang Ninh, have been luring locals with discounts of up to 50 percent.

Four-star Paradise Suites offers a one-night stay for only VND765,000 per person, including one meal for those living and working in Quang Ninh.

Besides, the hotel also offers a two-day-one-night cruise of UNESCO heritage site Ha Long Bay aboard a five-star cruise ship at VND2.65 million per person, including kayaking, four meals, an afternoon party and other entertainment services.

Five-star Legacy Yen Tu in Uong Bi Town, around 45 kilometers from Ha Long, offers a big discount every Thursday from now until Aug. 15, with Superior room prices starting from VND1.999 million overlooking Yen Tu Mountain, famous for trekking.

Quang Ninh lifted its swimming ban and reopened tourist destinations, relics, historical sites, and golf courses in June, but still prohibits visitors from outside.

Five-star Furama Resort Danang in Vo Nguyen Giap District in beach city Da Nang is offering discounts of up to 90 percent for all types of rooms, with two-bedroom pool villas costing only VND4.9 million a night or three-bedroom villas, only VND5.8 million a night.

FLC Samson Beach & Golf Resort in Sam Som beach town in the central province of Thanh Hoa also provides tourists with discounted room prices of only VND825,000 a night.

Though now might have been the peak summer travel season, over 20 localities, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and popular tourist destinations have been put under lockdown amid the worsening Covid situation.

After nearly two years and four waves of Covid, travel firms and luxury hotels are nearing financial crisis, forcing them to find ways to survive the pandemic.