Tour cancellations to northern region rise as COVID-19 resurges
Many booked tours to northern provinces for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday have been postponed or changed amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections in the area two weeks before the holiday, travel firms have said.
Tourists visit Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Many booked tours to northern provinces for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday have beenpostponed or changed amid the resurgence of COVID-19 infections inthe area two weeks before the holiday, travel firms have said.
Tours to thenorthern provinces saw strong demand for the Tet holidayas visitors from the tropical south sought to experience cold weather inthe north.
Arepresentative from Saigontourist said that customers were told about tourcancellation and postponement policies when they booked tours.
Mostcustomers from Ho Chi Minh City with tours to the northeast and northwestregions chose to cancel their bookings, while other customers switcheddestinations to Phu Quoc and Con Dao islands in the south and to Da Nang,Nha Trang and Phu Yen in the central region, the representative said.
Arepresentative from Fiditour- Vietluxtour said that customers in HCM Cityhad agreed to shift to short-distance destinations such as Vung Tau,Phan Thiet and the Mekong Delta to replace their cancelled tours.
Most travelfirms have put in place different scenarios depending on the duration of theCOVID-19 crisis, and are offering different policies on tourcancellations and postponements.
Nguyen NgocTan, General Director of Saco Travel, said demand for tours from HCM Cityto the northeast region for Tet holidayhave been strong due to stronger tourism cooperation between HCM City andthe northeast region.
The outbreakin the north, however, has resulted in many cancelled tours orchanges to other places, Tan said.
Mostcustomers asked travel agencies to refund their cancelled tour andsome group tours agreed to switch to a more appropriate time to travel, hesaid.
Nguyen NguyetVan Khanh, deputy director of the marketing department at Vietravel, said thecompany has prepared plans to adapt to any COVID-19 development.
Customersare advised to change their destinations or ask for travelvouchers that will be valid to April 30, Khanh said./.
Unnecessary festivals could be cancelled during 2021 festive season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Director of the Hanoi municipal Department of Culture and Sports To Van Dong on January 6.
Cai Bau island in Van Don district in the northern province of Quang Ninh has been put under temporary lockdown as from 0:00 on February 2 in order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new, highly infectious variant of COVID-19 from the UK has been discovered in another patient in Vietnam, announced the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City on February 1.
It is feasible Thailand could receive 5 million international arrivals this year, half the original forecast of 10 million, as the pandemic continues to ravage the tourism industry worldwide, according to the country's Tourism and Sports Ministry.
All the 240 households in Thieng Lieng hamlet once knew only salt production and aquaculture, but now welcoming tourists has become a source of their joy and income.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Tourists visit Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh. (Photo: VNA) 
