Nguyen Cong Hai, owner of Hai Quan Restaurant in the Bai Chay area, said that every day he has to check the seafood tank to check whether any fish or shrimp have died. According to Hai, seafood sales have been very slow due to the limited number of customers and his stock often dies.
Previously, around 10 restaurants in his area were operated, but since the tourism service in Ha Long was reopened in September, only his restaurant has remained operational. However, the number of customers to his restaurants has been small. Sometimes, it attracts no customers for a week, Hai noted.
Many restaurants and hotels have been closed or offered for sale
Bai Chay area which used to bustle with tourists is now deserted. All the stalls at the night market have been shut.
Quang Ninh recently held a forum on measures to ease difficulties for tourism firms. The province has offered free entrance tickets for visitors to some local tourist spots.
"The tourism sector needs to raise service quality to lure visitors. Travel companies have to strictly conform to Covid-19 protocols,” said Pham Ngoc Thuy, director of the provincial Department of Tourism.
The province allowed tourism to resume since September 20, targeting the revenues of VND1.4 trillion by the year-end.
A parking lot in Ha Long
The quiet atmosphere on a beach in Ha Long.
Dust covers tables and chairs at a restaurant in Ha Long after being closed for a long time
All the stalls at Ha Long night market are shut
Ha Long international wharf
At the Ha Long food street