Xuan Huong Lake is an attractive destination in Da Lat City

In addition to strengthening strict management measures to ensure safety for visitors, localities have initiated many measures to welcome and serve domestic tourists.

Positive signals

After Hanoi municipal People’s Committee issued DirectiveNo.07 on Covid-19 prevention and control, allowing the resumption of amusement parks and tourists attractions in the capital city, many destinations were bustling in their welcome tovisitors. The area around Hoan Kiem Lake saw a large number of tourists from April 30 to May 2, mainly those from the outskirts of Hanoi and other localities. Notably, many famous tourist attractions such as Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (The Temple of Literature), Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Hoa Lo Prison, Hanoi Museum and Hanoi Zoo, remained closed; therefore, people moved to suburban destinations to relax during the recent holiday. Bat Trang pottery village in Gia Lam District and Duong Lam ancient village in Son Tay Town are ideal destinations for many tourists.

Ho Chi Minh City celebrated the 45th anniversary of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day in an atmosphere more subdued than usual. Many famous destinations have not reopened. Several travel enterprises resumed tours, but the number of visitors was limited. During the recent holiday, the tour “Following the footprint of Saigon Special Forces” attracted many people. However, visitors were divided into small groups and asked to wear face masks and maintain the required distance to ensure their safety.

According to Sapa Cultural and Information Department, there were around 8,000 visitors to Sapa Town in Lao Cai Province on May 1-2.

Tourist areas and business and service establishments in Quang Ninh Province also welcomed visitors from May 1. By 3pm on May 2, 46 cruise ships, carrying over 500 passengers (including 30 internationals), arrived in Ha Long Bay; meanwhile, Yen Tu relic site received around 800 tourists and Quang Ninh Museum welcomed 700 guests.

During the holiday, tourist attractions in Ninh Binh Province welcomed 17,340 visitors, including 358 foreigners (mainly experts working in Vietnam). The province's accommodation facilities served 1,025 guests, including 115 internationals.

Tam Chuc national tourism area in Ba Sao Town, Kim Bang District, Ha Nam Province resumed its operation on April 28 and welcomed around 10,000 visitors per day over the recent holiday.

Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, Vo Le Nhat, said that Thua Thien – Hue provincial People’s Committee will allow visitors to enjoy free tickets to the relic sites in the ancient city until May 7.

Meanwhile, a promotional programme, with discounts of up to 60% on cable car tickets at the Ba Na Hills tourism complex in Da Nang City, has been officially launched for visitors from 14 central coastal provinces and five Central Highland provinces. Several other destinations in the central city resumed their operations. The visitors have the chance to visit tourist attractions in the ancient city of Hoi An and Quang Nam Province for free. The total number of arrivals in the province was estimated at 10,800 during the recent holiday.

According to statistics of Da Lat City People’s Committee, the mountainous locality received over 58,000 visitors, including over 1,300 foreigners, during the recent holiday.

Many other provinces and cities around the country began to reopen destinations as well as resume tourist activities in safe conditions.

Enhancing strict measures to ensure safety for visitors

Most localities have enhanced strict measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 epidemic. Some provinces and cities, including Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Khanh Hoa, still limited visitors bathing in the sea. Functional forces have been assigned to inspect and remind visitors to wear face masks and maintain asafe distance as well as checking the tourists’ body temperatures. Many accommodation facilities are recording the information of the guests and are equipped with more taps, soap and disinfectant solution while checking their body temperature every day. Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Department, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, said that all units were committed to organising safe tourism activities.

The tourism sector has also issued a written directive, asking tourist accommodation establishments, travel enterprises and tourist attractions to strictly implement Covid-19 prevention and control measures in accordance with the direction of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health in order to ensure safety for workers and visitors. The sector has also directed the relevant agencies, localities and tourist areas to focus on exploiting the domestic market as well as preparing specific plans to recover after the epidemic is controlled.

According to leaders from Thua Thien – Hue Province, many preferential programmes are being offered for visitors to the local relic sites. The 11th Hue Festival will be held from August 28 to September 2; however, its scale will be changed in line with prevailing conditions. Earlier, the provincial authorities issued a set of criteria for safe tourist attractions, establishments and enterprises. The province will also soon commence a project to recover and stimulate its tourism for 2020-2021 period.

Khanh Hoa Province’s authorities have outlined many measures for the recovery of tourism after the pandemic, including the effective implementation of mechanisms and policies to supporttravel businesses and boost promotional programmes to attract more visitors from July until December.

Vice Chairman of Chau Doc City People's Committee Tran Quoc Tuan said that functional units in the city in particular and An Giang Province in general have mobilise locals, visitors, restaurants and hotels to implement all measures to prevent and control the epidemic.

With the enhanced anti-epidemic measures, the country’s tourism sector is expected to recover quickly once the pandemic is controlled. The sector should thoroughly grasp the opportunity to nurture a safe, friendly and attentive Vietnam for both domestic and international visitors.