Vuong Anh, a tourist from Da Nang, had planned a four-day trek along the Manaslu Circuit, a popular trekking route in Nepal, starting 23/9 with a group of four. She eagerly anticipated the trip, drawn to the route's scenic beauty and moderate difficulty.

However, the unrest in Nepal forced her to reconsider. The trip cost an estimated 2,000 USD per person, including trekking gear, pre-payments for services like flights, a tour guide, porters, and insurance with helicopter rescue. Canceling would mean a loss of over 500 USD, excluding the gear, which she could reuse for another trip.

A protester holding a Nepalese flag stands in front of a burned police station in Kathmandu on 9/9. Photo: *AP*

Vuong Anh consulted her Nepalese travel agent who advised her that it was "safe enough" and that the situation would stabilize within 10 days. Despite this reassurance, she remained apprehensive and sought to cancel her tour.

Nepal boasts world-renowned trekking routes, including Everest Base Camp and the Annapurna Circuit. According to the Nepal Tourism Board, the country welcomed nearly 580,000 international visitors in the first six months of the year, a slight decrease of nearly 1% compared to the same period in 2024. In 2024, Nepal hosted close to 1.15 million international tourists.

Vien Dung, a tourist from Hanoi, canceled her pilgrimage to Nepal scheduled for 10/9. She expressed regret, as she typically makes this pilgrimage annually. "Looking back at photos from previous years is heartbreaking. It was once so peaceful," she said. She incurred no cancellation fees as she usually books last-minute flights and obtains a visa on arrival at Kathmandu airport.

Kathmandu street in 2022. Photo: *Vien Dung*

Large-scale protests erupted in Nepal on 8/9, with tens of thousands taking to the streets of Kathmandu after the government blocked most social media platforms, including Facebook, X, YouTube, and Instagram, claiming these companies hadn't registered and complied with government oversight.

Tensions escalated as demonstrations turned against corruption. Protesters attacked security forces, and police responded with live ammunition, making 8/9 one of the deadliest days in Nepal's history, with 20 deaths and hundreds injured.

Truong Cong Thanh, Central Region Director of Ho Phi Long travel agency, stated that by 12/9, some airlines with flights to or from Kathmandu offered refunds or ticket changes. For instance, China Southern Airlines offered assistance to customers who had booked before 5 PM on 9/9, for flights between 9/9 and 28/9.

Ho Phi Long facilitated about 50 postponements and ticket changes up to 28/9 due to the extraordinary circumstances. Nepal being a niche market with limited tourist traffic, the impact on travel agencies and airlines remained minimal. Despite seemingly positive news from Nepal after 12/9, Thanh noted that all Vietnamese tourists with bookings to Nepal until the end of the year have canceled, reflecting a strong reluctance to travel there at present.

Thuy Van, a Vietnamese tourist who arrived in Kathmandu on 1/9, booked a flight to leave on 12/9. She initially planned to spend a month in Nepal before traveling to Sri Lanka or Ladakh. However, recent events in Kathmandu left her feeling unsafe and unwilling to stay.

Businesses and restaurants on Pashupati Street have been closed for five days. Photo: *Thuy Van*

"The situation has been terrible these past few days. It seems better today, but most shops are still closed," she said. During her time in Kathmandu, Van couldn't go out at night due to a curfew from 5 PM to 7 AM. During the day, she had to carry her passport to avoid trouble with police checks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Vietnamese citizens in Nepal to stay indoors, avoid protest areas, especially in the capital and other high-risk locations, and regularly monitor updates from credible local media and the Vietnamese Embassy in India, which also covers Nepal. Citizens are advised against traveling to Nepal unless absolutely necessary.

International travel agencies also report receiving calls to postpone trips to Nepal.

According to Van, tourists are generally safe in Nepal as they aren't targeted. However, she feared being caught in an attack. Therefore, before her flight, she proactively found a hotel near the airport to "escape quickly if any problems arise."

Tu Nguyen