Phu Quoc Power Outage: Important Notes for Peak Season Tourists

An underground cable failure has caused widespread power outages in the North Island and Duong Dong, Phu Quoc. Many hotels have had to run generators, services have been affected and tourists should be prepared for the possibility of rolling blackouts.

Widespread power outage in Phu Quoc

Since November 29, a problem on the 110 kV Ha Tien - Phu Quoc submarine cable has caused widespread power outages, seriously affecting many areas such as Duong Dong, Cua Can, Cua Duong, Ham Ninh and the entire North of the island. The incident occurred right during the peak international tourist season, causing many businesses providing accommodation services and tourists to face many difficulties.

According to the Southern Power Corporation (EVNSPC), the incident is considered complicated and the repair time is expected to be long, depending on the extent of the damage. An Giang Power Company has isolated the cable line for inspection and is mobilizing maximum resources to handle the situation.

Costs soar and visitor experience suffers

To maintain operations, most accommodation establishments, from 5-star resorts to small hotels, are forced to use diesel generators, leading to skyrocketing operating costs. Mr. Le Hong Son, owner of the Golden Coast resort in Ganh Dau, said that his establishment spends about 20 million VND per day on fuel alone. Similarly, Ms. Le Thi Hai Chau, manager of a chain of 5-star resorts in the North Island, revealed that monthly electricity costs can increase from 1.5 billion VND to 2.8-3 billion VND when using generators.

A resort with more than 1,000 rooms in the north of the island. Photo: Agoda

Generator capacity typically only meets 70-80% of demand, forcing resorts to implement emergency energy-saving measures such as cutting public lights, limiting air conditioning temperatures and even rotating power outages in some areas. This has directly affected the experience of visitors, leading to room cancellations. Mr. Son's resort recorded about 40% of pre-booked guests canceling their rooms to move to the South Island or other tourist destinations.

Difficulties of small and medium enterprises

Not only large establishments, small-scale hotels and resorts are also struggling. Ms. Hoang Linh, owner of a resort in Duong Dong ward, said that her facility's generator broke down due to overload after two days of continuous operation. She had to rent an outside generator but it was only enough to supply power to the reception area and restaurant, guests had to use rechargeable lamps in their rooms. To maintain her reputation, she refunded the guests who wanted to leave.

Resort in Duong Dong ward lost power while generator was only enough to supply electricity to the reception area and restaurant. Photo: Hoang Linh

Mr. Ha Tuan Minh, Director of Winner Phu Quoc International Travel Company, shared that operating costs are currently five times higher than normal. More worryingly, the constant switching between grid power and generators causes unstable voltage, damaging many expensive electronic devices.

Advice for tourists coming to Phu Quoc

Given the current situation, tourists planning to visit Phu Quoc in the near future should proactively take the following steps:

• Contact the accommodation in advance: Ask clearly about the electricity situation and the ability to provide electricity by generator of the hotel or resort.
• Consider where to stay: The incident has most severely affected the North Island and central Duong Dong. The South Island may be an alternative.
• Prepare personal devices: Bring spare chargers, flashlights or battery-powered devices to be proactive in case of power outages.
• Be prepared: Some services and amenities may be limited. Guests should be prepared for a vacation that may not be as expected.

Many businesses are doing their best to minimize the impact on visitors. In the long term, some investors are considering installing solar power systems to increase self-sufficiency and minimize future risks.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/phu-quoc-mat-dien-luu-y-quan-trong-cho-du-khach-mua-cao-diem-3312436.html