In recent days, the war situation in the Iran-Israel region has been tense, affecting international air transport activities.
According to statistics from the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, from March 3 to 1 pm on March 5 (Vietnam time), Qatar Airways canceled a total of 13 flights to and from Vietnam, including 8 flights at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and 5 flights at Noi Bai International Airport, affecting at least 2,565 passengers.
In addition, flights connecting Hanoi to Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi from other airlines such as Emirates and Etihad Airways were also canceled.
While many passengers are struggling to find a way to return home as soon as possible, some tourists view this situation in a rather positive way.
Manuela, a tourist from Belgium, shared that her flight from Vietnam to Dubai was canceled at the last minute. Initially, she was quite shocked when she received the news.
“I have absolutely no idea what is happening. When my husband in Dubai called to report that the flight might be canceled, I just thought: how can I go home now?”, she recounted.
However, after booking three more nights of hotel to wait to find a replacement flight, Manuela admitted that she was "not too upset" about it.
Actually, I also want to stay in Vietnam more because this place is wonderful," she shared.
While waiting for a new flight, the female tourist continued to enjoy her vacation: swimming in Da Nang, shopping, meeting friends and even taking advantage of experiences such as massage.
After looking for alternatives, she decided to fly from Vietnam to Bangkok and then take a flight back to Amsterdam. Although the journey lasted a few more days, Manuela said this experience did not change her feelings for Vietnam.
“I have been here for more than six weeks, so I feel very familiar. Everyone is extremely friendly and always ready to help,” she said.
Contrary to Manuela's quite relaxed mood, on many travel groups for foreigners in Vietnam, many customers expressed confusion.
A tourist named Natalie Carmeliet said her flight was canceled from the end of February. When the new flight schedule was moved to the next day, she realized her travel visa had expired.
I am panicking. I don't know if I can get on the plane and pay the fine later or not," she wrote in a post seeking experience from the community.
Another case is British tourist Barbara Bussey, who said that she and her friend are stranded in Ho Chi Minh City after the flight was canceled, just as the 45-day visa exemption period just ended. The female tourist is considering the option of moving to the Cambodian border gate to complete visa procedures.
Meanwhile, some tourists planning to come to Vietnam in the near future are also starting to worry about the departure date at the end of March and April. Luisa Humphreys from the United Kingdom said she is wondering whether to change to a Doha connecting flight, due to concerns about the prolonged tense situation in the Middle East.
In the context of regional conflicts still developing complicatedly, the possibility of flights being adjusted or canceled may still continue in the near future. For many international tourists, that means the journey may be disrupted - but it may also become a surprise experience, just like how some people are enjoying a few extra days in Vietnam outside of plan.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam said that as of March 6, the operations of some airlines with routes from Vietnam to the Middle East continued to be affected by escalating conflict.
