Tourism struggles due to continuous storms and rains

Since the beginning of October, the central provinces have been continuously hit by prolonged heavy rains, many places have been cut off due to deep flooding. The Hue - Hoi An - Da Nang tourist route, which is the "backbone" of central tourism, has also had to temporarily suspend operations. Meanwhile, the northern regions such as Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Lao Cai, Son La... have just experienced landslides and floods, causing many routes to be interrupted.

Du lịch chật vật vì mưa bão liên tục- Ảnh 1. — Hotels in Sapa ( Lao Cai ) are covered in fog and cold.

Domestic tours temporarily suspended

Mr. Nguyen Minh Man, Deputy General Director of VinaGroup Tourism Company, said that almost all tours to the Central and Northern regions have been suspended during this period due to unstable weather, which cannot guarantee a safe itinerary for tourists. Most travel companies, including VinaGroup, have shifted to safer destinations, mainly foreign tours.

"Since the storm No. 10 in early October this year, VinaGroup has stopped all domestic tours in the affected areas and focused on more stable markets such as South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan. Revenue has not been affected much because we have advised customers to switch to other suitable markets. Currently, the Northeast Asia tour group is accelerating strongly," said Mr. Man.

The storm may pass, but preparation must always be there. Businesses that adapt quickly, are transparent and flexible will stand firm in all fluctuations.

Mr. Nguyen Minh Man, Deputy General Director of VinaGroup Tourism Company

Unlike many businesses that were directly affected, BestPrice Travel was fortunate that no tour group coincided with the storm. However, Ms. Tran Ngoc Minh Phuong, a company representative, admitted that she did not dare to open new tours until the weather stabilized. Some groups scheduled to depart in mid-November to Hue - Hoi An are currently postponed. "As soon as a storm is forecast, we stop selling tours immediately to avoid the situation of having to cancel right after departure," Ms. Phuong said.

According to Mr. Le Truong Hoang Nam, Deputy Head of Product Development Department of Vietravel, because every year is affected by storms, the company always prepares a backup scenario. If customers still want to go, the company will adjust the itinerary accordingly. "For example, if the destination is flooded, we will switch to Da Nang, focusing on indoor activities such as bathing in onsen, visiting Sun World or Ba Na Hills. Many years of experience help Vietravel handle flexibly when the weather is unfavorable," said Mr. Nam. However, Mr. Nam admitted that this year, storms and floods appeared earlier and more frequently. Climate change makes natural disasters more complicated, affecting earlier than every year. In the near future, the West may also be affected, especially the Ben Tre area (old), Dong Thap is showing signs of deep flooding. If this situation continues, the tourism industry will certainly have to recalculate its plan for the peak Tet season.

In the Central region, many travel agencies have had to work hard to handle unexpected situations when tourists were stranded due to floods. Ms. Phuong Thao, representative of Asia King Travel Company (Hanoi), recounted the journey of "rescuing" customers during the recent storm. Most recently, customers in Hue were stranded for 2 days, after which the company had to rent both a boat and a car to take them to the airport. In Hoi An, there were also groups facing a similar situation. Due to the storm, some tours in the Central region were forced to cancel, and some groups had to fly straight to Ho Chi Minh City to continue their programs. "We try to protect the interests of customers. Refunds from canceled tours are transferred to new programs, and customers almost do not have to pay extra," Ms. Thao said.

According to the Vietnam Tourism Association, the storms occurring during the peak autumn-winter season are having a major impact on the tourism industry, especially businesses focusing on the domestic market. However, many units have proactively "pivoted" to international tours, or designed more flexible products. Businesses such as Vietravel, Saigontourist or VinaGroup all have teams on duty to monitor the weather to promptly change schedules, or arrange alternative destinations. Some travel companies in the Central region also incorporate extended travel insurance, including tour cancellation costs due to natural disasters.

Du lịch chật vật vì mưa bão liên tục- Ảnh 2. — Foreign tourists return to Lao Cai for tourism

Worry about the peak season at the end of the year

Although revenue is still maintained thanks to the outbound market, many businesses believe that if the storms last until the end of the year, domestic tourism activities, especially in the Central region, will face difficulties during the upcoming peak season of New Year and Lunar New Year.

Mr. Le Truong Hoang Nam is worried that if the trend of extreme weather continues, there will be a need for a long-term strategy on tourism products to cope with natural disasters. "We can make short-term adjustments, but if there are heavy storms every year, we will have to restructure the tour. We need to develop more products for the rainy season, such as hot mineral baths, health care tourism or resort tours combined with therapy," he said.

Asia King representative also shared the same opinion: "Natural disasters are unavoidable, but if there is a good handling scenario, tourists will feel the professionalism of the company. Many international guests even consider this a memorable experience when they are wholeheartedly supported in the midst of storms."

According to tourism experts, in addition to temporary solutions from businesses, the biggest problem today still lies in transport infrastructure and destinations. Storms can easily paralyze airports, roads, and tourist ports, causing disruptions to the service chain.

In addition, localities need to upgrade early warning systems and build support mechanisms for businesses when they are forced to stop operations due to force majeure. Tax reduction policies, fee deferrals or short-term preferential credit packages can help businesses overcome difficult times.

Despite facing severe weather, many tourism businesses remain optimistic. Storms are just part of the long journey, and adaptability is the deciding factor in retaining tourists. Mr. Nguyen Minh Man affirmed: "Storms may pass, but preparation must always be there. Businesses that adapt quickly, are transparent and flexible will stand firm in all fluctuations."

Du lịch chật vật vì mưa bão liên tục- Ảnh 3. — The number of hotel bookings has decreased significantly due to the impact of storms and floods in the North and Central regions.

Du lịch chật vật vì mưa bão liên tục- Ảnh 4. — Tourists take advantage of the early morning visit to Bac Ha market

Du lịch chật vật vì mưa bão liên tục- Ảnh 5. — Bustling night market, Western tourists curious about Northwestern cuisine

Du lịch chật vật vì mưa bão liên tục- Ảnh 6. — Cold rain obstructs visibility, many landslides make travel difficult in Sapa

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, a low pressure area has appeared in the eastern part of the Philippines that is likely to strengthen into a storm, then enter the East Sea between November 5 and 7. It is forecasted that in November 2025, the East Sea may have 2-3 storms or tropical depressions, of which about 1-2 storms are likely to directly affect the mainland of Vietnam, especially the provinces from Da Nang to Khanh Hoa.

Localities in the Central region are advised to closely monitor weather developments and proactively prepare plans to prevent floods and landslides, ensuring the safety of tourists. Travel agencies need to regularly update information to adjust or postpone tours in high-risk areas, especially during the period from November 5 to 10.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/du-lich-chat-vat-vi-mua-bao-lien-tuc-185251103201532491.htm