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Da Lat Travel Post-Holiday: The Woes of Sold-Out Tickets and Traffic Jams
🇻🇳 Vietnam /Culture & Society

Da Lat Travel Post-Holiday: The Woes of Sold-Out Tickets and Traffic Jams

From Thanh Niên · (8m ago) Vietnamese Critical tone

Translated from Vietnamese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Travelers returning from Da Lat after the April 30th holiday faced sold-out bus tickets and significant traffic congestion.
  • Many travelers, including families and students, had to extend their stays or wait for cancellations due to the high demand for return transportation.
  • While popular tourist spots in Da Lat were crowded, accommodation occupancy dropped sharply after the holiday peak, with prices remaining stable.

The recent holiday period, celebrating April 30th, saw an influx of visitors flocking to the picturesque city of Da Lat. However, as Thanh Niên reports, the return journey proved to be a significant challenge for many, highlighting persistent issues with transportation infrastructure during peak travel times.

From the afternoon of May 2nd, bus companies operating the Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City route had to mobilize 100% of their vehicles but still could not meet the demand.

— Thanh NiênReporting on the severe shortage of bus tickets for travelers returning from Da Lat.

From the afternoon of May 2nd, bus companies operating the Da Lat - Ho Chi Minh City route were overwhelmed, deploying 100% of their fleet but still failing to meet the demand. The "sold-out" sign became a common sight, particularly for evening departures on May 2nd and throughout May 3rd. This left many, like Mr. Cao Duy Hoang's family, stranded and forced to extend their holiday unexpectedly.

Beyond the bus terminals, road travel also presented its own set of obstacles. While some opted for private vehicles, the notorious Bao Loc and Dai Ninh mountain passes experienced localized traffic jams due to the sheer volume of cars. This added hours to already long journeys, testing the patience of holidaymakers eager to return home.

The family planned to leave Da Lat on the evening of May 2nd, but after contacting many bus companies, all were fully booked, forcing them to stay an extra day.

— Cao Duy HoangA traveler describing his family's struggle to find return bus tickets.

Despite these travel woes, the city itself buzzed with activity. Popular attractions like Xuan Huong Lake, Lam Vien Square, and the night market were packed with tourists enjoying the cool mountain air. Events like the Love Valley Concert also drew large crowds. However, the surge in visitors was temporary. As quickly as the crowds arrived, they departed, leaving hotels with significantly lower occupancy rates just days after the holiday's end.

Many tourists drove themselves back from Da Lat. However, traffic pressure on passes like Bao Loc (National Highway 20) or Dai Ninh (National Highway 28B) made the journey difficult.

— Bui Van DucA tourist commenting on the challenging road conditions during the return journey from Da Lat.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Thanh Niên in Vietnamese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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