On the morning of 22/7, the Muong Thanh Luxury Ha Long Centre hotel was empty of guests as staff prepared for Typhoon Wipha. A spokesperson for the hotel group said their properties in Quang Ninh were offering free date changes to guests with bookings from 20/7 to 22/7. Some guests also received full refunds.
"Before the typhoon hit, we had 300 rooms booked. All guests were relocated on 22/7. Guests with bookings for 23/7, after the typhoon's landfall, will also be supported if they need to change their plans," the spokesperson said.
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Hai Tien beach (Ninh Binh), formerly Hai Hau commune (Nam Dinh) on the morning of 22/7. Photo: Pham Chieu |
Hai Tien beach (Ninh Binh), formerly Hai Hau commune (Nam Dinh) on the morning of 22/7. Photo: Pham Chieu
In Ninh Binh, a representative of Trang An Golf & Resort said on the morning of 22/7 that the golf course and accommodation, including the hotel, bungalows, and camping area, had closed since midday on 21/7. They were providing 100% refunds for golf and accommodation bookings and proactively notified travel agents about the cancellations.
With heavy rain and strong winds continuing at the Trang An golf course on the afternoon of 22/7, there were no immediate plans to reopen.
On several northern Vietnam travel forums, tourists inquired about the weather, focusing on popular destinations like Sam Son (Thanh Hoa) and Ha Long (Quang Ninh).
"My family was supposed to go to Sam Son today, but we had to postpone for 10 days. We had already booked the hotel and transportation, but yesterday we had to inform them of the delay. Fortunately, the hotel allowed us to change the dates," Ngoc Canh said.
Several hotels in Sam Son, Thanh Hoa, including Chau Long - FLC Sam Son, Vu Phong Prime, Gold Hotel Sam Son, Hang Nga, and Long Thanh, announced free cancellation and date change policies.
Phan Quynh, a representative of Chau Long hotel management, said they were offering 100% refunds for cancellations during the typhoon's impact from 21/7 to 23/7. They were also offering free date changes.
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A hotel in Hai Tien beach (Thanh Hoa) where some tourists are still staying. Photo: Le Hoang |
A hotel in Hai Tien beach (Thanh Hoa) where some tourists are still staying. Photo: Le Hoang
On a Sam Son tourism forum, local tourism workers reported heavy rain, closed restaurants, and advised visitors to postpone their trips for a few days. "The seawater is murky, the rain is still heavy, and the wind is strong. It's best to wait until at least the end of the week to visit Sam Son," Hung Anh said.
At a hotel in Hai Tien beach (Thanh Hoa), about 20 guests remained, sticking to their plans to stay until 23/7. They were moved to a safe area and advised not to go outside during the severe weather.
Typically, guests receive refunds if they cancel within a specified timeframe, such as 24 or 48 hours before check-in, or due to unforeseen circumstances like natural disasters, epidemics, or if the hotel fails to provide services as promised.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, at 11 a.m. on 22/7, Typhoon Wipha's center was over Hung Yen and Ninh Binh provinces, with maximum sustained winds near the center reaching 74 km/h (level 8), gusting to level 10, and continuing to move west-southwest. It was forecast to move towards Thanh Hoa and weaken into a low-pressure area over Upper Laos.
From now until tomorrow, heavy rain is expected in the southern delta of northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An. Other areas in northern Vietnam, including Ha Tinh, will receive 20 to 50 mm of rain, with some areas exceeding 100 mm.
Tam Anh
