Finding accommodation in Co To and Cat Ba is a real struggle.

Tourists who don't plan ahead may find it difficult to find the rooms they expect if they want to travel to Co To (Quang Ninh) or Cat Ba (Hai Phong) on weekends.

Hoang Anh, a tourist from Hanoi , posted on June 29th in three travel experience groups about Co To Island to find a room with the criteria of "good quality, close to the beach, and guaranteed two double beds". After half a day, she still hadn't found anyone who accepted her request, so she considered "using whatever room is available".

"I didn't think finding a room with such simple requirements would be so difficult," she said.

Khuat Van Quynh, the owner of a homestay in Co To, said he often had to "sleep in hammocks outside" throughout June due to the overwhelming number of guests. Quynh's establishment actually only has 10 rooms for rent and one single room for him, his wife, and their young child to sleep in. However, because the single room isn't very spacious, if all the rooms are occupied, he has to sleep outside.

As of July 20th, his establishment had no rooms available. The owner said this is a common situation for many guesthouses and homestays on the island. Tourists planning to travel at the end of July are currently finding it quite difficult to find accommodation.

Vu Thanh Minh, the owner of another homestay with 10 rooms in Hong Van (Co To), said that occupancy rates were consistently at 90-95% in June. On weekends in July and August, his establishment had almost all its rooms booked. The number of rooms available during weekdays was also relatively low. According to Minh, tourists need to book at least one or two weeks in advance if they want to choose reputable accommodations on the island.

Co To pier on June 16th. Photo: Vu Thanh Minh — Co To pier on June 16th. Photo: *Vu Thanh Minh*

Data from Mustgo, a company specializing in providing rooms to travel agencies, shows that accommodations in Co To are mainly 1-3 star hotels, guesthouses, or homestays with limited room availability. Room rates during the peak summer season do not increase significantly, ranging from 500,000 VND to one million VND per night.

During the peak season from June to August, weekday occupancy rates reach approximately 60-80%, while weekend occupancy is almost at over 90%. Last year, occupancy fluctuated between 50-70%, with rooms still available on weekends. Mustgo's partners report that the number of guests this year is 2-3 times higher than the same period last year.

In Cat Ba, the situation regarding finding accommodation is no better than in Co To. A representative from a travel company specializing in tour packages said it's almost impossible to find rooms that meet customer requirements if booking on weekends.

"Now, if there are rooms available, we have to book them immediately. If we wait too long, the guests' travel plans could be affected," this person said.

A media representative from a resort in Cat Ba said they have 1,001 rooms but only 878 are available for booking. Since the beginning of June, occupancy on peak days (Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays) has reached approximately 90% with 1,800 guests per day. On weekdays, occupancy fluctuates between 70-80%.

The majority of guests at this resort are large groups (47%), with the remainder being individual travelers and family groups. Compared to June 2022, the total number of occupied rooms (OCC) has increased by nearly 13%. The number of guests in June was also about 6% higher than the same period last year. Room rates were slightly higher, about 7.5%, compared to the same period last year.

The beaches in Cat Ba are crowded on weekdays. Photo: Ngan Ngan — The beaches in Cat Ba are crowded on weekdays. Photo: *Ngan Ngan*

According to VnExpress , most accommodations in Cat Ba have significantly increased their prices compared to the period before summer. Some hotels have raised prices by more than 600,000 VND per room compared to the previous period.

Statistics from Mustgo also indicate a price difference of approximately 30-50% between weekdays and weekends in Cat Ba. Currently, the average room price here ranges from 500,000 VND to 3 million VND.

A representative from Mustgo stated that the peak tourist season in Cat Ba lasts from May to the end of September. The occupancy rate during the week reaches 80-90%, and up to 100% on weekends.

"The number of tourists visiting Cat Ba this summer will continue to increase, and the fully booked situation may last until the end of September. In 2022, the fully booked situation only lasted until the end of August," a company representative said.

Tu Nguyen

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