There has been a stark contrast in the number of visitors to famed tourist destinations across Vietnam during the first public holiday after social distancing rules had been relaxed, with some places becoming overcrowded and others remaining nearly empty of tourists.

Most attractions in Vietnam have been reopened for only over a week after a long closure in adherence to the prime minister's social distancing order to contain the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Enhanced social distancing measures, including closing tourist attractions and lodging facilities and banning inter-province commercial passenger transport and gatherings of more than two people in public spaces, were in place from April 1 to 15 in the entire nation and prolonged through April 22 in 28 provinces and cities.

Businesses have been gradually reopened and commercial transport resumed between provinces and cities in Vietnam following the relaxing of social distancing rules from April 23.

As most salaried workers in Vietnam are enjoying a four-day break, starting from Thursday, in celebration of the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers' Day (May 1), some holiday hotspots are visibly more popular than others this year, as observed by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's reporters.

Particularly, visitors have thronged attractions in Da Lat City, the capital of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, with daily arrivals on Thursday and Friday estimated at 25,000.

By contrast, the UNESCO-recognized Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary in the central province of Quang Nam have been much less crowded, with few to no tourists spotted on Thursday and Friday despite the sites having reopened.

People queue to buy entrance tickets to an attraction in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, May 1, 2020. Photo: Duc Tho / Tuoi Tre

A restaurant remains closed as few tourists visit Hoi An Ancient Town in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Tai / Tuoi Tre

Like Da Lat, Phan Thiet City in the coastal south-central province of Binh Thuan has been welcoming swarms of visitors as people flocked to its beautiful beaches for the holiday.

Meanwhile, beaches along Vung Tau City in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau have been deserted as a ban on beachgoing remains effective in the popular beach city.

Visitors still traveled to the city — around 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City — in large numbers but were not allowed to take a swim in its beaches as per the ongoing beach closure.

Below are photos highlighting the stark contrast among tourist destinations in Vietnam captured by Tuoi Tre'sreporters on Thursday and Friday.

People walk past a signboard propagandizing COVID-19 prevention measures and the beach closure at a beachside park in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

An empty beach is captured in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

An almost empty street is captured in Hoi An Ancient Town, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Tai / Tuoi Tre

A signboard propagandizing COVID-19 prevention measures and the beach closure is erected at a beachside square in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

Beachgoers swarm a beach in Phan Thiet City, Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam, May 1, 2020. Photo: Duc Trong / Tuoi Tre

A banner propagandizing the beach closure for COVID-19 prevention and control is placed on the embankment of an empty beach in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

A street performer is surrounded by swarms of people at a night market in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, May 1, 2020. Photo: Duc Tho / Tuoi Tre

Vehicles throng a street in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province, April 30, 2020. Photo: Mai Vinh / Tuoi Tre

No tourist is spotted at My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam in this photo captured on April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Tai / Tuoi Tre

A police officers guards an entrance to an empty beach in Vung Tau City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province, Vietnam, April 30, 2020. Photo: Dong Ha / Tuoi Tre

No tourist is spotted at My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam Province, Vietnam in this photo captured on April 30, 2020. Photo: Duc Tai / Tuoi Tre

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