Hundreds of island-stranded tourists return home in Vietnam

Kien Giang Maritime Port Authority has resumed high-speed boat and ferry services between Nam Du and Rach Gia, the capital of Kien Giang Province, after more than three days of suspension due to rough seas.

Boat services to and from the nearby Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam’s largest, have also been resumed.

A tourist waits to board a ship from Nam Du to return to the mainland in Rach Gia on July 16, 2024. Photo by Quoc Dai

Tran Thi Yen Oanh, vice chairwoman of the local People’s Committee in An Son Commune, home to Nam Du Island, said that the stranded tourists had returned to the mainland on Tuesday morning.

Normally, there are two high-speed boat trips from Nam Du to Rach Gia on weekdays and four on weekends, but boat operators temporarily increased it to five to handle the number of stranded tourists, Oanh added.

Oanh said the commune had provided hundreds of free meals to the stranded tourists on the island. Over the past three days, accommodation establishments have also reduced room rates.

Phu Bich Van, owner of a high-speed boat ticket agency, said the stranded tourists were anxious to return home and were constantly asking when boat schedules would resume.

A group of tourists stranded on Nam Du Island amid bad weather, July 2024. Photo by Quoc Dai

In the hours before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, when the first boat trip from Nam Du departed, passengers waited in large numbers at the wharf, Van said.

Tran Quoc Dai, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City who traveled to Nam Du with a group of friends, boarded that first ship to the mainland at 10:30 a.m.

“It rained intermittently on the island for a few days, so I was still able to go out,” he said, adding that the hotel had reduced room rates by 50%, and many restaurants provided free meals.

“Local people were quite warm to tourists. Our group felt quite comfortable while we were stuck on the island for a few days, but we also hoped to return home as soon as possible,” Dai added.