Hundreds of Vietnamese tourists currently in Hainan and Guizhou, China, are struggling to return to Hanoi due to the severe impact of Super Typhoon Yagi, which is the strongest storm to hit Asia this year.

Thousands of travelers have been forced to reschedule their flights as airports in northern Vietnam and China are closed or operating under severe restrictions.

The typhoon has caused the closure of several major airports in northern Vietnam, including Van Don (Quang Ninh), Cat Bi (Hai Phong), Noi Bai (Hanoi), and Tho Xuan (Thanh Hoa), from 10 AM to 9 PM on September 7. Similarly, airports in regions affected by Typhoon Yagi in China have also ceased operations.

As a result, many Vietnamese travelers on international trips are stuck due to the airport closures. Nhue Thi Ngan, General Director of Hanoi Tourism JSC, reported that tours to Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, which were scheduled to return between September 3 and 5, managed to conclude safely. A group traveling to Lijiang on September 6 also landed safely.

However, a group scheduled to return from Hainan on September 5 had to cancel their trip and will wait for a new departure date, while another group originally flying on September 7 has rescheduled their flight to September 8. Additionally, a group set to travel to Thailand on September 7 has also postponed their departure to September 8.

Despite the disruptions, Ngan noted that her company’s partners in China are providing accommodation and meals at no additional cost for the stranded travelers. Some groups, like those in Hainan, have willingly covered additional expenses such as an extra dinner.

Ngan emphasized that negotiations with partners have proceeded smoothly, given the understanding of the typhoon’s severity. However, certain groups heading to South Korea and Japan tonight and early tomorrow (September 8) are still awaiting updates from airlines about potential changes to their flight schedules.

The company has not yet fully assessed the financial impact, as efforts are focused on managing the situation and accommodating each group’s needs according to their new flight schedules.

Similarly, Nguyen Thi Thu, Director of Alibaba Vietnam Travel Company, reported minimal impact so far. A tour to Zhangjiajie on the afternoon of September 6 went ahead as planned after the storm passed. A group scheduled to depart for Hainan tonight has had their flight postponed to 8:30 AM on September 8.

Thu hopes the weather will stabilize by then and that Hainan will be prepared to welcome tourists post-storm. The company also has tours departing for Yunnan and returning from Yunnan to Hanoi on the morning of September 8, but is awaiting further updates from airlines.

To date, Alibaba Vietnam Travel Company estimates that around 300 customers have been affected by the typhoon’s impact.

In response to the storm, major Vietnamese airlines have adjusted their schedules significantly. Vietnam Airlines has canceled and rescheduled over 110 flights, including 34 cancellations and 78 adjusted schedules for both domestic and international flights. The adjustments affect flights to and from Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi, including destinations such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Japan, Singapore, Kaohsiung, Beijing, and Shanghai.

Vietjet has also suspended 67 flights to and from Noi Bai Airport from 10 AM to 7 PM on September 7, with similar cancellations affecting Cat Bi Airport (Hai Phong) and Tho Xuan Airport (Thanh Hoa). Bamboo Airways canceled 14 flights on September 7.

The travel disruptions caused by Typhoon Yagi continue to affect many travelers, with ongoing efforts to manage the situation and ensure the safety and comfort of those impacted.

Ngoc Ha