July 23, 2020 | 20:56 (GMT+7)
Hoi An deserted after COVID-19
PANO – On June 1, Hoi An Ancient Town of Quang Nam province decided to welcome tourists after the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam was basically under control. However, the tourism hub in the Central region has not completely returned to normal as the number of tourists is declining.
Below are some photos of the Central tourist hub in July.
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According to figures of the People’s Committee of Hoi An, in the first six months of this year, Hoi An welcomed only 774,044 tourists, a 73% decrease compared to the same period last year. |
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Chua Cau (Japanese Covered Bridge), a symbol of Hoi An ancient town, is quiet these days. |
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Tourist boats on the Hoai River are empty. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, tourists were densely queuing up along the riverbank to board service boats for sightseeing. |
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According to locals, this is the first time Hoi An has had such a quiet atmosphere since it was honored as a world cultural heritage site. Tuan, owner of a souvenir shop at Le Loi and Nguyen Thai Hoc T-junction, said that his business has been severely affected by the pandemic. |
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These days, Hoi An mainly welcomes domestic tourists who come to capture the beauty of the ancient town. Some people take the occasion to travel to and stay in Da Nang city. |
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This shop on Nguyen Thai Hoc used to be a fabric shop. However, due to the Government’s temporary ban on all foreign visitors, shop owner now serve drinks and food for domestic tourists. |
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These windows on Bach Dang street attracted numerous tourists before the pandemic. Recently, they are deserted in the morning. |
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A hotel on Nguyen Duy Hieu street is closed due to the pandemic. According to the city’s Culture and Information Office, Hoi An welcomes around 650 tourists per night on weekdays and around 2,500 per night at weekends. The town is quiet on the weekdays. At present, 90% of accommodation establishments in the locality have resumed their operations. |
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Most arrivals to Hoi An these days are domestic tourists. |
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The Japanese Covered Bridge is crowded at the weekend. Some local shops are still closed to customers. |
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To attract tourists, Quang Nam province’s authorities are planning to offer promotion programs for tourists, including 50% discounts on ticket prices. |
Source: Vnexpress
Translated by Tran Hoai