Summer travel and the challenges of the rainy season

Bach Long Glass Bridge at Moc Chau Island Tourist Area - an attractive tourist destination in the summer.

The appeal of summer travel

In recent years, summer tourism in Son La has always maintained a special attraction for tourists. The most prominent is Moc Chau National Tourist Area, an ideal destination with endless grasslands, green tea hills, plum gardens, and avocado gardens full of fruit. Along with that, the system of tourist areas, resorts, homestays, and community tourism villages is increasingly invested in professionally and diversely, such as: Moc Chau Island Tourist Area, Dai Yem Waterfall Eco-tourism Area, Ang Village Pine Forest Tourist Area, etc.

Mr. Nguyen Cong Thao, a tourist from Hanoi, commented: I have had many opportunities to visit Moc Chau National Tourist Area at different times of the year. From my own experience, I like to visit here in early winter and summer because the air is fresh and cool, it is the season of many delicious fruits, suitable for the whole family to relax and have meaningful experiences.

In addition to Moc Chau, Son La also attracts tourists with many unique summer destinations such as: The majestic landscape of Song Da Lake, especially at the lake tourist spots in Quynh Nhai commune. Discovery tourism in Ta Xua with cloud hunting routes, or trekking routes to explore the mountains and forests is gradually becoming a favorite destination for young people and those who love to travel. In addition, community tourism spots are also becoming ideal destinations for families who want to take their children to explore, experience indigenous culture, handicrafts, participate in activities with local people, and enjoy traditional cuisine. Many destinations have been and are being known by many people, such as: Mong community tourism village in Ta So, Moc Chau ward; Thai community tourism village in Doi village, Tan Yen commune; Bon village, Muong Chien commune; Luot village, Ngoc Chien commune...

Not only that, summer is also the meeting point of cultural - tourism events, agricultural festivals held in localities in the province, such as: Moc Chau plum picking festival, Phieng Khoai plum picking festival, Song Ma longan festival... With such attraction, summer in Son La is always a worthy occasion for tourists to have many meaningful experiences.

Tourists experience plum picking in Thao Nguyen ward.

Challenges of tourism in the rainy season

Summer is also the rainy season in Son La, bringing with it significant risks, directly affecting tourism business activities. With high mountainous terrain and steep mountain passes, the rainy season always carries the risk of landslides, flash floods, and traffic jams. Since the beginning of the rainy season, the province has recorded many prolonged heavy rains, causing landslides, affecting traffic on National Highway 6, National Highway 37, and National Highway 279. In recent days, prolonged heavy rains have also caused landslides and flooding, damaging crops in many localities in the province.

Mr. Hoang Manh Duy, Deputy Director of Moc Chau Island Tourist Area, shared: For Moc Chau National Tourist Area, summer is considered the low season of the year, the number of visitors here decreases significantly compared to the high season (from December of the previous year to April of the following year) for many reasons. Most tourists choose to travel to the sea in the summer and are hesitant to travel to mountainous tourist destinations due to unusual weather, the risk of storms, flash floods, and many potential dangers. In the summer, the number of visitors to Moc Chau Island decreases by about 30% compared to the high season.

A corner at Moc Chau Island Tourist Area.

Other tourist areas and destinations in Son La also recorded a significant decrease in the number of visitors. Mr. Dinh Hong Phuc, Deputy Director of Pha Luong Tourism Joint Stock Company, informed: The number of tourists to the Company's destinations in the summer often decreases by 50% compared to the peak season. Therefore, we take advantage of this time to upgrade facilities and research and develop new products.

Proactive solutions for safe summer travel

The challenges that tourism faces during the summer due to storms and rains are inevitable. The biggest problem for businesses and tourism service establishments is to ensure the safety of tourists visiting and experiencing this occasion. To respond, the tourism industry has taken proactive steps. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Son La province has issued many documents directing response to natural disasters.

Most recently, the Department issued an official dispatch on focusing on responding to storm No. 3 in 2025. In particular, it requires functional agencies and units to review and inspect all tourist spots, homestays, riverside areas, streams, and hills at risk of landslides and flash floods in the area; requires tourism service businesses to fully implement safety measures and prepare plans to evacuate tourists in case of bad situations. Directs the Monument Management Board to strengthen inspection, reinforcement, and bracing of structures; recommends that tourist areas, spots, businesses, and tourism service businesses in the area proactively suspend or adjust tour activities and tourism services in areas at high risk of flash floods, landslides, and flooding.

Visitors to Quynh Nhai Lake are provided with life jackets when going boating.

Mr. Tran Xuan Viet, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: The Department is continuing to update and complete the digital tourism map on the smart tourism software "Son La Tour". When completed, it will integrate accurate warning information about storms and floods, vulnerable and dangerous points related to tourist areas and destinations in the province. From there, provide quick and timely information to businesses, business establishments and tourists to ensure safety for summer tourism. In addition, the Department also strengthens propaganda and guidance for businesses and business establishments on building green and safe tourism products to attract tourists in the summer.

For tourism businesses, proactively developing response plans for tourism during the rainy and stormy season is always a top priority to ensure absolute safety for tourists and not damage the brand and reputation of tourist areas and spots. Mr. Hoang Manh Duy, Deputy Director of Moc Chau Island Tourist Area, added: We always proactively monitor the weather, regularly check the routes, install warning signs and improve the response skills of the staff serving at the tourist area. At the same time, we update guests on the storm situation and support them in rescheduling their visit to a safer time or stopping receiving guests at times of dangerous warnings due to floods.

Ms. Le Thi Thuy Linh, a tourist from Bac Ninh, who just returned from a trip to Moc Chau National Tourist Area at the end of June, said: My trip was affected by heavy rain one day. The roads to some tourist attractions were a bit slippery and we could not experience all the outdoor activities as planned. However, I appreciate the proactiveness of the travel company and tour guide. They informed us in advance about the weather situation and had timely alternative plans to ensure the safety of the group.

Son La tourism in the summer has its own unique appeal but also faces significant challenges from the rainy season. With the proactiveness and determination of management levels, the consensus of businesses and the adaptation of tourists, Son La is gradually moving towards the goal of developing safe, sustainable and professional tourism. Continuing to invest in infrastructure, diversifying products, improving warning and response to natural disasters will be the key for Son La tourism to overcome the difficulties of the rainy season, affirming its position as an attractive destination on the Vietnam tourism map.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/du-lich/du-lich-he-va-nhung-thach-thuc-mua-mua-lu-kEgNeSwHR.html