"The day before our trip ended, the weather finally cleared, and we were able to go out," Ngoc said about her family's trip to Hong Kong during Typhoon Ragasa.

38-year-old Minh Ngoc, from Ho Chi Minh City, said her family traveled to Hong Kong from 22/9 to 26/9. They booked flights and accommodation two weeks in advance, with the total cost around 40 million VND (approximately 1,700 USD), plus visa fees, and each member carried 500 USD for spending money.

"The trip was to celebrate my mother's retirement and for our family to relax, bond, and explore the city's famous landmarks," Ngoc said, adding that the trip didn't go as planned due to the unexpected typhoon.

Fallen trees after the typhoon, evening of 24/9. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Hotels and shops closed, 24/9. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

The deserted promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui, evening of 24/9. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

Food at the family's hotel. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

The family arrived in Hong Kong on 22/9 as rain and strong winds began. The rain intensified, and on 23/9, Hong Kong issued a T10 typhoon warning – the highest level – as the typhoon approached, bringing heavy rain, strong gusts, and high waves.

Super Typhoon Ragasa, considered one of the strongest to hit the region in years, brought Hong Kong to a standstill. Hundreds of flights were canceled, and the entire bus and subway system was shut down. Shops and restaurants closed and boarded up.

"Hearing the highest-level typhoon warning, we were all worried. Despite her fear, my mother remained optimistic, saying that safety was paramount and all other plans could be changed," Ngoc recalled.

23/9 was the peak of the storm. That afternoon, Ngoc and her family ventured out for a walk near their hotel. She said the wind was strong but the rain was light. However, by evening, the rain and wind intensified, forcing them to stay in their hotel room. "Listening to the heavy rain and howling wind all night was unsettling," she said.

On 24/9, as the rain subsided, the family took a taxi to Causeway Bay because "being cooped up in the room was getting boring." The 6 km trip cost nearly 800,000 VND (approximately 34 USD), double the usual fare.

"The driver explained the surcharge was due to the bad weather. We only took one trip and returned to the hotel because it was so expensive," Ngoc explained.

After the typhoon battered the city for over two days, the rain gradually stopped on the evening of 24/9. Ngoc's family walked to the harbor and saw uprooted trees scattered on the streets, with the wind still strong. The promenade in Tsim Sha Tsui, a few hundred meters from their hotel, was lit up but almost deserted. Many hotels in the area remained closed, securely boarded up against the strong gusts.

Ngoc’s mother wearing a raincoat while visiting Causeway Bay on the afternoon of 24/9. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

With their itinerary disrupted, the family's dining plans were also affected as most restaurants remained closed until 24/9. For more than half of their trip, they couldn't visit the restaurants they had planned. They mostly ate at the hotel and bought supplies from convenience stores in the area.

On the morning of 25/9, Ngoc said Hong Kong had mild sunshine and cool weather, making up for the previous three days of storms. The family made the most of their remaining time, visiting the M+ museum, Man Mo Temple, and returning to Causeway Bay. Ngoc had booked tickets to Disneyland for the evening of 25/9, but had to cancel because the park was littered with fallen trees after the typhoon and hadn't been cleared yet. Instead, they took a harbor cruise to see Victoria Harbour, which cost around 800,000 VND (approximately 34 USD) per person.

Hong Kong streets on the morning of 25/9. (Photo courtesy of the interviewee)

On 25/9, as Typhoon Ragasa weakened, leaving fallen trees and disrupted services, the Hong Kong government quickly worked to clear debris, reopen the airport, and restore transportation. Hong Kong International Airport resumed operations from 6 a.m. on 25/9, operating all three runways to handle over 1,000 scheduled flights.

On 26/9, Ngoc's family returned to Ho Chi Minh City, concluding their "unforgettable" 5-day trip to Hong Kong. Ngoc still found Hong Kong impressive, from the harbor views at night to the Ding Ding trams that reminded her of TVB dramas from her childhood. However, she felt the cost of travel was high compared to the experience.

"The food wasn't as diverse as in Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan, while the prices were higher. Even the hotels were expensive, but the rooms were small," Ngoc said, adding that even though she booked a higher-class room to accommodate her family, it still felt cramped.

Ngoc said the trip to Hong Kong was a special memory, despite spending most of their time in the hotel, watching the wind and rain outside.

"Experiencing a super typhoon on our first visit to Hong Kong was certainly memorable," Ngoc said. Her visa is valid for three entries, and she hopes to return when the weather is better for a more complete experience.

Mai Phuong

Photos courtesy of the interviewee