TTO – Vietnam tour was turned upside down because of COVID-19 but in return, many foreign visitors received a surprise: many business owners welcomed and isolated them in luxurious resorts.
For many days, the 5-star Hoa Co resort is located at 252 Cua Dai Street, Hoi An Ancient Town (Quang Nam).
« Happy isolation »
10am, 18 guests gather in the pool area next to the spacious villas, flowers blooming aisle. One holds a book lying by the pool to relax, another holds the phone to capture the funny « isolation » moment of your friends. Under the pool another group of people dived. At first glance, no one thought that the European visitors were being quarantined because of the COVID-19 epidemic.
« We went through very different moments. From the excitement of coming to Vietnam to the anxiety of knowing we were flying with people infected with COVID-19. But by this time it was really lucky because at least We are still resting in a luxurious place « – said Jan Bleyenberg – Head of 18 guests from Europe.
According to Jan, his friends are mostly retired. The group schedule a flight together to Hanoi, enter Hue and plan to visit Hoi An, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City and then stop the last leg at Phnom Penh (Cambodia) to end the holiday.
But everything suddenly changed when the flight from Europe to Hanoi on 9-3 had COVID-19.
A few days after coming to Vietnam, while in Hue, the delegation was informed by the authorities to be isolated. Everyone was shocked but forced to follow the guide to Hoi An.
« I will honor you and Vietnam on the front page »
Interestingly, the team leader Jan Bleyenberg was a journalist. He has just retired and is currently an advisory member of the Belgian Journalists Association. Witnessing what in Vietnam that he and 17 friends are going through, Mr. Jan hugged Hoa Co resort owner Mr. Nguyen Thanh Sang and shouted: « Great Vietnam! My God, even I see here every things are better than Europe, the weather is nice, the food is good, the quarantine is luxurious, there is a swimming pool, luxurious rooms and we don’t feel any trouble other than being a little inconvenient. go out for a walk. »
Mr. Jan looked at the owner of Hoa Co resort and promised: « Back to Belgium I will have an article and a photo of you on the front page of the newspaper that I am working with. We will never forget this special trip. » .
Hoa Co is one of two privately-owned luxury resorts in Hoi An that is welcoming foreign guests influenced by COVID-19 into isolation. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Sang said everything started from 3am on 12-3. A group of British tourists come to Quang Nam to travel and fly on flight VN0054. When leaving Quang Nam, this group of tourists was refused to leave Danang.
« Around 2-3 am, I was sleeping when a leader of Hoi An City called me to offer to open the resort to accept the other 4 British guests because all the other resorts refused » – Mr. Sang said.
Twilight on the morning of 12-3, the bus carrying 4 guests to serve the delegation was to Hoa Co resort. Mr. Sang said from the time of arrival, his staff had helped them settle down, the 3 most spacious and luxurious villas that had been reserved by the guests – reserved for 4 British guests and the group members. glass.
But not only this group, two or three days later the Hoi An government asked him to open the room with 18 guests from Belgium, France and three members of the delegation to stay in Hoi An in isolation.
Without hesitation, once again Hoa Co resort opened its door to welcome the poor guests. The days of « stuck » in Hoi An, although not out, but all guests in isolation were dedicated service is no different than in a luxury vacation.
« They are so poor. I said nothing but complained and asked nothing. When they left the hotel, they left a letter to express their gratitude. They said they would never forget where they were staying, » Can not forget Hoi An was pregnant and one day they will come back « – Mr. Sang said.
Set aside the best place to « offset » stormy trips for guests
Along with the story of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Sang, dozens of foreign guests « trapped » by COVID-19 are also being welcomed and served at a high-class resort in the coconut forest of Cam Thanh commune (Hoi An).
This is a luxury resort, the average cost per room from 1 to 1.5 million. However, the owner has decided to accept foreign guests to quarantine and care here. From the moment guests arrive, there are always people around, blocking to disinfect and protect people from entering and leaving.
At the preliminary meeting of the 10-day peak on anti-epidemic, Quang Nam People’s Committee Chairman Le Tri Thanh said – these difficult times need people, businesses and the government to open arms to support tourists. .
« The tourists themselves come to Hoi An to travel, when normally they bring jobs. Now in the epidemic they have suffered a lot of damage, so we have to welcome them to take part of the damage. show your heart « – Mr. Thanh said.
THAI BA DUNG