Storm Prapiroon leaves 6,000 tourists stranded on northern Vietnam islands

Tens of thousands of tourists had left Cat Ba island in Hai Phong City after authorities announced the suspension of inland waterway transport, ferries, cable cars and entertainment services on the island from Monday noon.

As of 3 p.m. on Monday, there were 3,885 tourists stuck on the island, including 435 foreign visitors.

Foreign tourists stay at a hotel on Cat Ba Island in Hai Phong City to avoid storm Prapiroon. Photo by Xuan Hoa

To support tourists affected by the storm, local authorities called on hotels and motels to reduce room rates by 50%.

Some hotels even agreed to host the stranded tourists free of charge, or only charge them electricity and water costs.

Le Manh Hiep, owner of Dolphin Hotek 230 hotel on April 1 Street in Cat Ba Town, said that after posting a notice of free rooms for tourists stuck on the island due to storm Prapiroon, hundreds of people came to register.

In Quang Ninh’s Co To island district, there are currently 888 tourists stranded, including nine foreigners while Van Don District has 1,002 tourists left.

A representative of the Ha Long Bay Management Board said that by 3 p.m. Monday, all tourists visiting the bay returned to shore safely while 398 cruise ships operating throughout Quang Ninh province also took shelter before 4 p.m.

Storm Prapiroon made landfall in Quang Ninh at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, causing heavy rains and strong winds.

Many northern localities such as Hai Phong, Hanoi, Thai Binh and Nam Dinh have recorded heavy rains since Monday night.