Tourism in northern mountainous areas hit hard by typhoon Yagi

September is the most beautiful time in northern mountainous provinces like Yen Bai, Ha Giang, and Lao Cai, when terraced fields shimmer with golden ripening rice, attracting many tourists to admire the breathtaking scenery.

However, super typhoon Yagi that struck northern Vietnam last Saturday has not only claimed more than 200 lives and left many missing, it has caused severe damage and hurt local tourism.

Many tourists, despite having booked tours a month in advance and purchased plane tickets, cancelled their trips to northern destinations like Mu Cang Chai and Ta Xua to avoid dangerous storms and landslides.

Nguyen Lan Anh and five of her friends, Vietnamese expatriates working in Japan, planned a three-day tour last weekend to admire the rice terraces in Hoang Su Phi district in the northern province of Ha Giang, during their two-week return to Vietnam.

However, they have received an announcement from the travel agency about the cancellation of their trip due to severe flooding and landslides in the area after the storm. The tour will be rescheduled when the situation stabilises and local accommodation can welcome back guests.

Anh said: “I felt saddened when seeing the images of the devastation caused by the natural disasters. I am also moved by the timely support of people across the country towards the people of Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen, and Lao Cai in recent days.

“If I miss the chance to explore Ha Giang this time, I will go on my next visit home. Safety is still the top priority,” she told local press.

Tour operators have also cancelled trips to Mu Cang Chai district in the northern province of Yen Bai and Ta Xua commune in the northern province of Son La – top destinations in the northern mountainous region this September – to ensure the safety of travellers.

Trang Pham, a representative of Trang Du Hi Tour, canceled a trip to Mu Cang Chai for 38 customers last week. This week, she had to announce the cancellation of tours to both Mu Cang Chai and Ta Xua for 57 customers due to flash floods and landslides.

The roads from Hanoi to Mu Cang Chai are now restricted and following the tragic bridge collapse in the northern province of Phu Tho, several crossings have been blocked, preventing access.

"In my three years in the tourism industry, this is the first time I've had to cancel five tours in a month," she said.

According to Trang, Mu Cang Chai only enjoys one or two months of peak tourist season across the whole year. Therefore, to secure rooms for guests, her company must book accommodation three months in advance. However, when the storms and floods hit, safety is the top priority.

Trang informed her customers about the postponement of the tours and encouraged them to reschedule. In cases where customers cannot rearrange their plans, her company will fully refund their deposits.

“Some of my customers arranged their work a month in advance and some groups had booked their trips since early August for this week. There are also customers flying from HCMC to Hanoi who now have to explore the capital instead. However, everyone understands the situation and supports us," she added.

Another tour operator, Bui Quan Dan, has posted an announcement to temporarily suspend all tours in the northern region and areas affected by typhoon Yagi.

“We will welcome customers back once the weather stabilises, the locations are restored and it is critical to ensure that travellers have the best experience during their trip," he wrote on his Facebook page.

The operator said his company has postponed tours for over 80 customers this week because destinations such as Y Ty, Hoang Su Phi, Ta Xua, and Mu Cang Chai are all at high risk of either severe landslides or not accessible.

Nguyen Quyet, director of AHA Travel_Event, agreed that the cancellation of tours to such affected areas are necessary to ensure safety to tourists.

“Many of my customers have informed me that they are postponing or canceling their tours to save money to support those affected by the floods. Quite a few are also volunteering to provide aid in Yen Bai and Thai Nguyen – areas severely hit by the floods. This is truly commendable. I hope our fellow citizens can overcome this hardship together,” he told local media.