Many hotels in flood-hit areas open to support residents and tourists

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Many hotels in flood-hit areas open to support residents and tourists

Market news

12/09/2024

Many accommodation establishments in areas affected by storm Yagi such as Lao Cai, Thai Nguyen, and Yen Bai have reduced prices for tourists and reserved empty rooms for locals to stay for free.

On September 9, after a few hours of posting free accommodation support for people needing to avoid storms and floods, Ms. Thao Nguyen, owner of Thao Nguyen Hotel in Thai Nguyen, continuously received requests for help. On the afternoon of September 10, her hotel with nearly 30 rooms was full, supporting more than 60 people to avoid the flood.

In the past two days, many Facebook groups have appeared with posts sharing information about places to stay to avoid storms and floods for people and tourists. These posts received positive interactions, many people shared them to help people affected by floods find shelter.

Each room in Ms. Nguyen's hotel has one family staying, single rooms for 3-5 people, double rooms for 6-7 people. The hotel is located near Thien Dan ward committee, not flooded, with stable electricity and water. The hotel owner also prepared a generator, 30 liters of water, in case of power outages.

Ms. Nguyen said that on the afternoon of September 10, the water in Thai Nguyen city was receding but slowly, and many areas were flooded, reaching the roof. In addition to providing rooms, the hotel also provided free meals for the people.

Nhóm thiện nguyên địa phương phát đồ ăn miễn phí cho người dân lưu trú tại khách sạn Thảo Nguyên. Ảnh: NVCC

A local volunteer group distributes free food to people staying at Thao Nguyen Hotel. Photo: NVCC

"We mobilize staff to cook and deliver food to guests' rooms. If we don't have enough staff, we will ask the local volunteer group to help distribute food," said Nguyen, adding that many people still need support but her hotel is at capacity.

"With the current situation, it will take 3-4 days for people to return home," Nguyen shared.

After Typhoon Yagi made landfall on September 7, flooding and landslides occurred in many places in the North, including major tourist destinations. More than 140 people died, nearly 60 people are missing, hundreds of people were injured and tens of thousands of houses were damaged and flooded.

In Lao Cai, Ms. Tran Thuy Nga, CEO of Big Lao Cai Hotel, also said that she had supported people to avoid floods and tourists stranded due to the impact of the storm in the past two days. "The hotel is located on Hoang Lien Street, the second highest road in Lao Cai, so it is not flooded, and the electricity and water are guaranteed," said Ms. Nga.

On September 9, the hotel supported three rooms for people to stay for free. On September 10, the flood water in Lao Cai gradually receded, leaving only one local family in a room in the hotel. In addition, 28 other rooms are occupied by tourists, 60-70% of whom are Chinese tourists traveling to Lao Cai who cannot return by road due to landslides and muddy roads. The hotel has supported a 40% reduction in room rates for guests staying past the check-out date.

Ms. Nga said that the water in the city has almost completely receded, leaving behind tons of mud on some roads. Some places have lost power, and the entire city has lost water. "The hotel also had its water cut off, but there is a backup water tank so tourists and people still have enough water for daily use," said Ms. Nga, adding that she is ready to support accommodation in the coming days.

September is the peak tourist season in Lao Cai, hotels are often 90% full and foreign guests make up the majority.

Hung Vuong Hotel in Sa Pa also offers a 20% discount on room rates for stranded tourists staying for an extra day. Mr. Vu Van Dao, the owner of the accommodation facility, said that the hotel currently has 3-4 guest rooms, all of which are occupied by foreigners.

On September 10, many roads in Sa Pa were still eroded, such as National Highway 4B. A group of guests scheduled to fly on September 11-12 left Sa Pa for Lao Cai on the afternoon of September 10.

"Guests have to rent small cars and take small side roads to get to the highway to avoid landslides," said Mr. Dao.

Khách sạn Hùng Vương giảm giá phòng cho khách mắc kẹt ở Sa Pa. Ảnh: NVCC

Hung Vuong Hotel reduces room rates for guests stranded in Sa Pa. Photo: NVCC

Mr. Duong Truc Long, owner of Sapa Luxury Hotel & Spa, said he has supported more than 10 households staying at the hotel to avoid the flood. The hotel currently has 72 rooms, accommodating about 300 people. "Tourists and residents in need of support can come and stay comfortably," Mr. Long said, adding that he will provide food for people to cook for themselves until the storm and flood are over. The hotel also continuously updates the room situation on its personal page so that people can easily search.

In some other flooded areas such as Phu Tho and Yen Bai, there are also hotels ready to welcome people and tourists looking for shelter.

Ms. Le Khanh Linh, owner of Truong Son guesthouse on Yen Ninh street, Nguyen Thai Hoc ward, Yen Bai city, said she has opened her doors for free, welcoming people to stay during the time the city was flooded and at risk of landslides since September 7, before the floodwaters rose. Currently, this 35-room accommodation facility is providing temporary shelter for more than 70 local people.

"The rooms are full, but we have three halls that can accommodate more than 50 people and are open to welcome people in need of shelter," said Linh.

Bích Phương