Russian tourists in Mui Ne. Photo: nld.com.vn

As many as 125 out of 309 stranded Russian tourists have returned home thanks to efforts by Binh Thuan province’s authorities and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The remainders will return to Russia from now to Feb. 9.

The Russian visitors were left stranded in Vietnam after the bankruptcy of the Russian giant travel company Lanta Tour Voyage on Jan. 27. Most of the visitors are staying at 17 local hotels and resorts in Mui Ne, with their accommodation contracts, valued at 7 billion VND, expiring on Feb. 8.

Right after the incident, leaders of Binh Thuan province asked the resorts to help the tourists return home or continue their holidays under their signed contracts.

At a meeting between Binh Thuan authorities, VNAT and the Lanta Viet Travel – a representative of the Russian company on Feb. 1, representatives from the Russian Consulate General in Vietnam announced Prime Minister V. Putin’s diplomatic note, requesting Russia ’s credit institutions to provide Lanta Tour Voyage with financial assistance to continue its operations.

The note also asked Lanta Tour Voyage to reckon up its debts to resorts and hotels in countries hosting Russian tourists.

The Russian diplomatic representatives said Lanta Tour Voyage has resumed its operations and the announcement will be sent to its branch offices around the world, including Vietnam.

The representatives said that the Russian side thanked the Binh Thuan provincial authorities, the VNAT and local hotels and resorts for helping Russian tourists stranded in Vietnam.

Lanta Tour Voyage is one of Russia ’s biggest travel companies with dozens of representative offices around the world. The company arranges outbound tours for more than 100,000 Russians each year.

Source: VNA