HCM CITY — Hotels in tourist destinations like Vung Tau, Nha Trang, and Phan Thiet are nearly fully booked for the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday week.
Le Thanh Lam, deputy director of the Bien Dong tourism area in Vung Tau, said all 27 rooms at his resort were booked from February 4 to 8 at tariffs prices ranging from VND700,000 (US$35) to VND1.5 million ($75).
Other hotels in Vung Tau like the 118-room Palace and 72-room Buu Dien are also fully booked for February 4-7.
According to the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, 70 per cent of rooms at private guesthouses in Vung Tau have been booked in advance.
Nguyen Van Khoa, chairman of the Binh Thuan Province Tourism Association, said luxury resorts in Mui Ne-Ham Tien are 80-90 per cent full during the week, and fully booked from February 4 to 6.
In Nha Trang, hotels are full up on February 4 and 5. Some luxury hotels like Yasaka-Sai Gon-Nha Trang hotel and Novotel only have rooms for February 3.
In Phan Thiet and Hon Rom-Mui Ne, hotels are charging double the normal tariffs for rooms.
Price gouging
Guesthouses and mini hotels have increased rates from an average of VND180,000 ($9) to VND350,000 ($17.5) for a single room and from VND280,000 ($14) to VND550,000 ($27.5) for a double room.
Thanh Dat hotel in Nha Trang is charging VND1.4 million ($70) for a room compared to a mere VND300,000 ($15) on normal days.
Thien An hotel said there are no more double rooms available between February 3 and 6 while a room for four has jumped from VND350,000 ($17.5) to VND800,000 ($40).
To avoid gouging by hotels during Tet, Tran Ba Viet, deputy chairman of the Thang Tam Ward People's Committee in Vung Tau, said authorities would inspect hotels and food establishments to ensure they do not gouge customers.
The Ba Ria-Vung Tau People's Committee said it had ordered local authorities to strengthen inspections.
Khoa of the Binh Thuan Tourism Association said members of his association had promised not to increase room and other tariffs.
Apart from prices, food hygiene and safety is also a major concern.
However, resorts and restaurants in Mui Ne have signed contracts with seafood processors to alleviate visitors' fears during Tet.
The Bien Dong tourism area in Vung Tau has signed contracts with supermarkets to ensure safe foods and vegetable. — VNS