4,000 stranded tourists leave Cat Ba Island after Storm Prapiroon

The Dong Bai-Cai Vieng ferry resumed operation from 7 a.m. Wednesday, after more than a day of suspension.

Knowing that the ferry was running, many tourists flocked to Cai Vieng wharf to wait in line from 5 a.m., leading to congestion.

As of Wednesday afternoon, hundreds of cars still lined up about a kilometer from the ferry wharf to Phu Long intersection on Cat Ba Island in Cat Hai District.

Congestion at Cai Vieng wharf on Cat Ba Island on July 24, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Le Tan

Hai Phong City authorities halted inland waterway transport, ferries, cable cars, and amusement services on the island from Monday noon. Nearly 4,000 tourists were stranded on the island.

Local authorities called on hotels and motels to reduce room rates by 50%.

Some hotels even agreed to house them free of charge or only charged them for electricity and water.

Dong Bai – Cai Vieng ferry transports passengers from Hai Phong City to Cat Ba Island, a journey about 1.86 km long that takes 15 to 25 minutes. However, on holidays and weekends, this ferry wharf is often heavily congested.

Storm Prapiroon made landfall in Quang Ninh Province which borders Hai Phong at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday before delving into a tropical depression, causing heavy rains and strong winds in northern localities.