Since September 8, many accommodation and food service businesses in Sa Pa have posted on social networks announcements of free accommodation, meals, and updated information on weather and traffic.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Vinh, from VNS Travel Company in Sa Pa, started sharing support with tourists and locals from September 8. The Sapphire Hotel on Nguyen Viet Xuan Street owned by Mr. Vinh's acquaintance has 25 rooms, currently 12 rooms are providing free accommodation to stranded tourists from September 9 to September 11.
Ms. Nguyen Khuyen, owner of Sapa Global Hotel on Luong Dinh Cua Street, said: Sa Pa has landslides in many places such as O Quy Ho glass bridge tourist area, Mong Sen bridge toll station, Cat Cat village... The hotel has 9 rooms and parking space, always providing free accommodation for those who are stranded.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Thinh, Lito Travel Company, updated this morning that the rain in Sa Pa shows no signs of stopping completely. Many bus companies have announced that they have stopped picking up passengers and have no expected date to resume operations.
Mr. Thinh warned: "Tourists who have plans to travel at this time should postpone and wait until the flood season ends. Those who are in Sa Pa and cannot return home should contact free accommodation units."
Mr. Thinh's Lito Hotel on Le Van Tam Street also announced that guests will stay free of charge from the night of September 8 until the flood ends.
Ms. Tran Lan Anh, owner of Sapa Old Quarter Hotel and Restaurant on Cau May Street, shared: Currently, the hotel has 10 rooms, all with 2 large beds, which can accommodate up to 5-6 people per room. The hotel provides free accommodation and laundry services.
Seeing that the flood situation is getting more serious and the number of landslides is increasing in Sa Pa town and neighboring areas, Mr. Nguyen Huu Vinh combined with other tourism service businesses such as Lito hotel, Dung Long pig restaurant... to contribute to cooking free meals.
Since September 8, the group has called on many units and individuals to join hands and cook hundreds of meals every day to send to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Sa Pa town to distribute to people affected by floods.
Currently, Sa Pa has about 20 accommodation establishments from small to large that welcome stranded guests for free. Some accommodation units that tourists and locals can contact are HD Home Sa Pa Guesthouse, Cloud Village Sapa, Anh Tu Sapa Hotel, Arengo Hotel Sapa, La Do Homestay...
The circulation of storm No. 3 Yagi caused floods and landslides in many areas of Sa Pa as well as on National Highway 279, National Highway 4D, provincial roads such as 151, 152, 153 and 155, the Lao Cai - Sa Pa route and vice versa, the section near Bridge 32... disrupting traffic.
On September 8, the People's Committee of Sa Pa town announced the suspension of outdoor tourism activities; welcoming visitors at historical sites and scenic spots in the area until further notice.
On September 9, Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee Trinh Xuan Thuong signed a document announcing a natural disaster emergency to respond to flash floods, landslides and inundation in the province.
It is forecasted that Lao Cai and Yen Bai will have heavy to very heavy rain with common rainfall of 50 - 120 mm, locally over 250 mm. During the day and night of September 11, there will be moderate rain, heavy rain, very heavy rain and thunderstorms with common rainfall of 30 - 60 mm, locally over 120 mm.
In Lao Cai, there is a high possibility of landslides on steep slopes and both river banks downstream along the Red River in the communes of Cam Duong, Binh Minh, Bac Lenh (Lao Cai city); Thai Nien, Son Ha, Son Hai, Phu Nhuan, Pho Lu town (Bao Thang district).
Weather warnings for widespread thunderstorms are likely to be accompanied by extreme phenomena such as tornadoes, strong winds and lightning strikes. Residents and tourists, especially in mountainous areas, should be on guard against such natural disasters causing damage. Be alert for heavy rains causing sudden flash floods in small streams, landslides in steep terrain, and flooding in low-lying areas.
