Coastal beaches and Islands offer cooling option for visitors

Thousands of people rush to beach of Đà Nẵng in hot days during the national holiday on April 27-30. Pristine beaches of the city were flooded with local residents and tourists in seeking cooling destinations. Photo courtesy of Lê Lâm

CENTRAL REGION  — Pristine beaches, islands and entertainment centres were seen as favourite options for tourists visiting the coastal central provinces and cities including Đà Nẵng, Hội An, Mỹ Sơn, Lý Sơn Islands and Thừa Thiên Huế in severe hot weather days on April 27 and May Day.

Đà Nẵng hosted 340,000 visitors on April 29-30 – five per cent increase with the same period of last year – while 624 flights were recorded in the main national holidays.

Beaches were overloaded with local and visitors in the evening in cooling with series water entertainment and sports service ranging from VNĐ150,000 (US$6)to VNĐ1 million ($40).

Cruise Azamaza Journey carried 1,000 visitors to the city’s destinations in the tour service provided by Saigon Tourist travel agency.

A diver reacts for photo deep in water off Chàm Islands. Beaches and Islands are cooling options for tourists in scorching days. Photo courtesy of Chàm Islands

Hàn market – a traditional favourite local shopping site – was one of the most crowd sites with 9,000 arrivals each day, the city’s tourism department reported.

Đà Nẵng has developed 16 destinations and 1,285 hotels and resorts with total 46,000 rooms in providing full service for tourists during high-season between March and September.

In creating smooth traffic for tourists traveling between Đà Nẵng and Hội An, two new bus routes connecting Đà Nẵng with Hội An ancient town and Tam Kỳ City of Quảng Nam province were officially put into operation.

The city’s transport department said Phương Trang Bus company operates daily bus service from Đà Nẵng to Hội An with every trip from 15 to 20 minutes and ticket price of VNĐ35,000 ($1.4) each trip.

Bus service from Tam Kỳ to Đà Nẵng opens with 15 to 25 minutes every trip, and ticket price at VNĐ40,000 ($1.6).

In Quảng Nam, Hội An ancient town – a UNESCO-recognised world heritage site – welcomed 5,000 visitors each day during the national holiday, while Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary saw a surge with 1,500 tourists – 60 per cent increase in comparison with normal daily figure – from Australia, Korea, Taiwan and the US each day.

Chàm Islands, 20km off the coast of Hội An, a world biosphere reserve site, also hosted 8,000 tourists – three times as much as daily limited allowance of the islands. The islands were assigned for 2,500 visitors in a day.

Visitors explore Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary in Quảng Nam Province. The world heritage site hosted 1,500 arrivals each day during April 27-30. VNS Photo Công Thành

Lý Sơn Islands, off the coast of Quảng Ngãi province, also witnessed 6,000 adventurers – four times as much as usual plans.

The administration of the Islands’ port had to supply 17 boat trips every 30 minutes in easing congestion.

The islands’ logistics and accommodation could handle 2,000 visitors for staying at hotels, resorts and home-stay service.

A model poses for photo session on edge of a dormant volcano in Lý Sơn Islands, off the coast of Quảng Ngãi Province. At least 6,000 visitors booked tour service on the Islands on April 26-30. Photo courtesy of Lý Sơn Islands Review

Thừa Thiên Huế, a destination of five UNESCO-recognised world heritage values – also welcomed 110,000 tourists – on April 27-30.

The provincial tourism department said 58,000 visitors including 15,000 internationals, had already booked rooms.

It said room service in the province reached 85 per cent during April 27-30.

Trường Tiền Bridge spans over the Hương River in Huế City. The central province of Thừa Thiên Huế welcomed 110,000 visitors on April 27-30. VNS Photo Công Thành

Recently, premier train routes have been introduced in connecting Hà Nội and Huế to Đà Nẵng, and HCM City to Đà Nẵng that aim at boosting smooth traffic for tourism. VNS