Rough weather forced the suspension of the express boat service from the mainland to Nam Du, an island off the coast of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, for two days, leaving nearly 70 tourists stranded, said a local official on Monday afternoon.

The boat service between the provincial city of Rach Gia and Nam Du, located in Kien Hai District, ceased on Sunday due to powerful winds and high waves, Tran Thi Yen Oanh, vice-chairwoman of the administration in Kien Hai’s An Son Commune, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper.

Local authorities have called on hotel and tourism service providers to reduce lodging and transportation fees by 50 percent to support the stranded visitors.

Nam Du Island, located over 100 kilometers off the coast of Rach Gia, is famed for its stunning Men Beach, according to the An Son Commune administration.

During the recent National Day holiday (September 2), Nam Du and Hon Son, two islands in Kien Hai known for their pristine natural beauty and unique marine and forest ecosystems, attracted around 13,400 tourists.

The islands generated approximately VND30 billion (US$1.2 million) in tourism revenue then.

Le Xuan Hien, head of the province’s meteorological agency, said that thunderstorms had hit the waters off local islands including Nam Du and Phu Quoc, with rainfall ranging from 5mm and 15mm.

To ensure tourist safety, the Kien Giang Maritime Administration on Monday had yet to permit the resumption of the express boat and ferry services from Rach Gia to Phu Quoc.

Meanwhile, the express boat service from the provincial city of Ha Tien to Phu Quoc was resumed at noon on Monday.

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