VIETNAM – Tourist destinations across Vietnam are ready to welcome tourists once again as the country heads into the Labour Day holidays this weekend, with restrictions on groups in place.
Earlier this week, key tourist sites around the country reopened doors after temporary closures in mid-March to stem the spready of the coronavirus. Tourists must travel in groups if 10 or fewer people and observe social distancing and health safety precautions at attractions.
Attractions in the central region such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam, the Lam Kinh Historical Site in Thanh Hoa and public beaches in Danang, Binh Dinh and Kien Giang have reopened, as has the Dalat Night Market in the central highlands of Lam Dong.
In Sam Son city, accommodations and restaurants are gearing up with the necessary precautions to welcome back guests. Vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Sam Son city Bui Quoc Dat said that the city is speeding up the completion of tourist management plans so that it can safely welcome tourists once social distancing regulations are rolled back.
In the southern province of An Giang, two nature peaks, Sam Mountain and Cam Mountain, have also reopened. Tourists entering the Cam Mountain site must adhere to regulations, such as wearing a mask, frequent handwashing and maintaining a distance of two metres from other visitors.
The gradual reopening of the country for business and leisure and partial easing of social distancing regulations come as Vietnam recorded no new cases of Covid-19 for 14 days.
Domestic flights between key cities Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Danang are expected to resume next Monday (4 May), as airports like the Van Don International Airport are expecting to reopen. The airport is a key gateway into Halong Bay in Quang Ninh.
Vietjet will kickstart daily flights between Van Don and Ho Chi Minh from 4 May, followed by a four-times weekly service by Vietnam Airlines from 16 May and Bamboo Airways’ daily service from 1 June, Vietnam News Agency reported.
Vietnam Airlines is expected to add a thrice-weekly flight from Danang to Van Don from 16 May.
Van Don Airport director, Pham Ngoc Sau, said the airport is planning to work with Quang Ninh authorities on a tourism campaign soon.
The airport has plans to offer flights to other popular tourist destinations such as Phu Quoc and Nha Trang in the third quarter this year.
The airport has an annual handling capacity of 2.5 million passengers, with plans to grow to five million by 2030.