Tourists struggle to find accommodation in Ha Giang.

A view of Ma Pi Leng Pass on the morning of the 4th day of Tet (Lunar New Year).

From January 31st (the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year), tourists began flocking to Ha Giang, causing traffic congestion in many areas such as the Tham Ma slope, Bac Sum slope, and Ma Pi Leng pass. In the Dong Van area, there was a shortage of accommodation, forcing tourists who hadn't booked in advance to travel far from the town center to find lodging. Many houses with spare rooms were also repurposed to accommodate guests.

Duc Manh, a resident of Hai Phong , and his group of 10 friends embarked on a backpacking trip to Ha Giang on the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year) and had no difficulty finding accommodation or transportation. However, upon arriving in Meo Vac at 7 PM on the third day of Tet, the group struggled to find rooms at more than 10 hotels and guesthouses, only to be told they were all booked. Some places had available rooms in communal stilt houses, priced at 250,000 VND per person, but lacking privacy, so the group declined. After about two hours, they finally found a local family who agreed to let them stay for 100,000 VND per person.

"I didn't think fire safety measures were that important," he said.

Ms. Bui Thi Thu Hue, owner of Lam Tung Hotel in Dong Van, said that all three of her establishments, with a total of 45 rooms, are fully booked until the end of next week. On the third day of Tet (Lunar New Year), the hotel's phone rang constantly, but they couldn't accept any more guests because all rooms were booked early. Ms. Hue also helped a group of tourists who, even after 8 PM, still hadn't found a room, to stay in a local's house where they had gone back to their hometowns for Tet.

According to Ms. Hue, hotel owners in Dong Van always support tourists, but the number of people flocking there on the third day of Tet was "really overwhelming". The restaurant owned by Ms. Hue, with a capacity of 130 guests per seating, was fully booked twice last night.

In Meo Vac, a representative from Hoa Cuong Hotel said that the hotel was fully booked on the 3rd, but the number gradually decreased on the 4th as the district mainly welcomed backpackers, with few tour groups. Yesterday, the hotel also received many calls from tour groups in Dong Van who were unable to find rooms.

Tour guide Khuc Quang Sang from Viet Travel Company also said he saw many individual tourists and families struggling to find rooms. Most hotels in Dong Van announced they were fully booked until the 6th day of Tet (Lunar New Year). Tour groups from travel companies had enough rooms because they had arranged in advance.

This morning, Sang's group visited Ma Pi Leng Pass and took a boat trip on the Nho Que River. The weather in Ha Giang on the 4th day of Tet was sunny and beautiful, perfect for tourism, in contrast to the thick fog on the 3rd day. He said the car moved slowly due to prolonged traffic jams, especially the section leading down to the Nho Que River boat dock where construction materials were still scattered on the road. Along the route this morning, Sang's group had to navigate about 8 traffic jams, taking 30 minutes to get through.

"There was traffic congestion, but customers understood that demand increases during Tet (Lunar New Year), so everyone was happy to wait," he said.

HA (according to VnE)

Source: https://baohaiduong.vn/khach-chat-vat-tim-phong-o-ha-giang-404269.html