Danang cyclo drivers experience hard times due to Covid-19 outbreak

Cyclo services in Danang City are struggling to find customers as the tourism industry has been hit by fears of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Cyclo services in Danang City are struggling to find customers as the tourism industry has been hit by fears of the Covid-19 outbreak.

  

Danang cyclo drivers experience hard times due to Covid-19 outbreak

Cyclo is one of the most preferred modes of transport for tourists in Danang City who want to sightsee. However, in the past days, the cyclos are being left idle. A driver said he was in this line of work for 10 years and this is the first time the city had been so quiet.

Most people have ceased unnecessary trips or going to crowded places. Before the outbreak, the drivers received more than five trips a day.

"On busy days, we worked from dawn to dust. But now most tours have been postponed or cancelled, we may have just one to two trips a day. Some days, we don't have any customers. Many drivers already found other jobs during this time," a driver said.

The drivers charge VND100,000 (USD4.30) per hour for the service. The tourists can choose the designated routes or decide their own trips. During the trip, they can visit the markets or restaurants. Sometimes, the city cyclo team management board had to hire freelance drivers to meet demands.

Hoa, a freelance driver, said, "The number of tourists to Danang is decreasing. Sometimes, I earned VND20,000-VND100,000 a day but sometimes, I couldn't find any customers. My main customers are now domestic tourists and housewives."

Due to the nature of the job, many drivers don't have time to find a part-time job. But since the outbreak is still developing unpredictably, many have to find other jobs to support their families.