Are Vietnamese tourists canceling tours to Taiwan (China) due to the earthquake?

English: "The 7.4 magnitude earthquake destroyed many buildings and famous tourist destinations in Taiwan (China), leaving residents and tourists in shock. On social media in Taiwan, the online community shared a series of videos related to the earthquake that occurred on the morning of April 3rd. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake caused extensive damage to famous tourist spots, resulting in panic among the locals and visitors.

At the rooftop pool of a hotel near the epicenter in Hualien, Taiwan (China), a video captured the water violently splashing as a tourist was bathing. Another clip showed water from a pool on top of another hotel overflowing, creating a waterfall right in the city center. Many high-rise buildings were tilted and sank after the seismic event.


Ms. Hong, a tourist from Nghe An, planned to visit Taiwan on April 5th but worried whether to cancel her trip. 'Hearing the news of the earthquake is terrifying. I need to seek advice and experiences from the Taiwan travel community,' she said.

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Currently, the female tourist keeps updating the situation, as there are forecasts for possible aftershocks in the coming days. She will only decide close to her departure time, depending on the actual circumstances.

Mr. Minh Tuan, a Vietnamese living in Taiwan (China), who often escorts Vietnamese tourists, stated: 'The area of Taipei where I live, about a 2-hour drive from the epicenter, experienced light tremors lasting about 30-40 seconds. The locals are not overly worried, but the Vietnamese tourists here are a bit anxious.'

View attachment 1398 The earthquake caused many mountainous areas to experience landslides. Photo: Taroko National Park.

Mr. Tuan shared that transportation in Hualien city was almost paralyzed after what is considered the strongest earthquake in 25 years. Tourism activities were suspended, many hotels announced closures for 5 days and began refunding tourists with prior bookings.

'Currently, local authorities are urgently conducting rescue operations and deploying maritime vessels to rescue residents and tourists trapped in the rubble. Tourist areas in Hualien have announced closures for 5 days to address the emergency,' he said.

In addition, the Suhua highway was blocked, suspending the eastern railway lines between Jiaoxi and Fenglin. Aviation agencies, maritime ports, and railway units were also asked to coordinate transport vehicles and passengers to safety. Buses were arranged to transport residents to and from Su'ao station to Su'ao port, and between Hualien station and Hualien Maritime Port.

In the coming days, there may be aftershocks in Hualien and the surrounding areas. However, tourists visiting other parts of Taiwan are not significantly affected and can still depart in the coming days, Mr. Tuan opined.

View attachment 1399 A section of the Suhua highway on the eastern coast of Taiwan collapsed after the earthquake. Photo: X.

After the earthquake, several changes occurred for the tours bringing Vietnamese guests to Taiwan (China) during this period. Representatives from Vietravel travel agency reported a total of 3 tourist groups with 71 members scheduled to visit various cities in Taiwan.

As scheduled, on the morning of April 3rd, one group of Vietravel departed for Vietnam, another group concluded their itinerary and returned to Vietnam on April 4th.

The remaining group will return home on April 6th. The groups are still following their normal itinerary, with no changes yet.

Furthermore, for tourist groups departing between April and June, the company has not recorded any requests to postpone or cancel tours from tourists, according to Vietravel representatives.

Ms. Vu Thi Bich Hue, Head of PR and Marketing at Flamingo Redtours, noted that the company has a group scheduled to depart on April 6th with an itinerary covering Taipei - Taichung - Kaohsiung. This tour is in the northern area of Taiwan, while the earthquake occurred in Hualien situated in the eastern part of the island.

She mentioned that currently, airlines and service providers in Taiwan are still operating normally and have not issued any new travel advisories for tourists.

'We are continuously updating the information. If the situation does not guarantee safety, we will formulate specific contingency plans. Ensuring tourist safety is our top priority,' Ms. Bich Hue emphasized.

View attachment 1400 Debris blocking a road connecting Taichung city and Hualien. Photo: Taichung Fire Department.

According to official information from the Taiwan Tourism Bureau, during this period, no tourist groups are moving to areas affected by the earthquake. Hualien city is located on the eastern coast of Taiwan, while most scheduled tours from Vietnamese travel companies are primarily located on the western side of the island.

'It’s possible that during travel to sightseeing destinations, tourists may feel light tremors from the earthquake. The company assures that all tourist groups are currently safe. The sightseeing itinerary will be adjusted flexibly to match the actual situation in areas affected by the natural disaster,' affirmed the Vietravel representative.

Hualien, the site of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake on the morning of April 3rd, is a bustling tourist city on the eastern coast of Taiwan. As of the evening of April 3rd (local time), at least 9 people were reported dead, over 900 injured, and hundreds trapped under debris from the earthquake, according to the Taiwan Fire Agency.

View attachment 1401 A video on social media captured the scene of a major landslide in Hualien after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook Taiwan on April 3rd. Photo: Byron Wan/X.

Japan and the Philippines have lifted their tsunami warnings after the earthquake in Taiwan. Hualien Airport was not damaged after the quake, and flights are currently operating normally.

Some public transport in Hualien like trains and buses were delayed. However, authorities expect transportation to return to normal by the afternoon of April 4th.

If you plan to visit Taiwan in the coming days, tourists should contact hotel providers, airlines, or tour organizing companies for updates on conditions and necessary changes."

Source: https://dulich.laodong.vn/tin-tuc/k...ung-quoc-co-huy-tour-vi-dong-dat-1322776.html