Da Nang has announced 3 quarantine hotels that are available for people entering and returning to the city from COVID-19 affected areas. They are charged from VND 1 million –VND 1.3 million per night in a single room, and from VND 1.2 million – VND 1.7 million in a double room for their stay in quarantine hotels.

Facilities used for hotel quarantine must be selected against specific criteria which reduce the risk of transmission as identified in the control hierarchy. IN THE PHOTO: A hotel located in Vo Nguyen Giap Street, Son Tra District, is among the government-approved quarantine facicilities. Photo: THU HA

However, hotel quarantine cost is too high for many arrivals and returnees to afford. The city leaders have directed tourism officials to select more hotels that offer reasonable room rates for these people to stay in managed isolation, creating more options for them to choose. As part of the protocols set by the Da Nang Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, all arrivals and returnees from affected areas will have to undergo mandatory quarantine for 21 days in an accredited hotel or a government-arranged accommodation, and they must pay for it.

Arrivals and returnees from affected areas must pay for quarantine in designated facilities in Da Nang, covering their stay, food and transport, in addition to four coronavirus tests costing VND 3 million. Currently, all managed quarantine facilities in Da Nang are overwhelmed. Police and medical workers are working around the clock at 30 COVID-19 checkpoints across Da Nang to increase checks on people entering and leaving the city while they have to perform their regular tasks at the same time. Therefore, there are not enough personnel to staff at designated quarantine facilities.

Three quarantine hotels are available in Da Nang as below:

1. The 4 - star Seven Sea Hotel located at 150 on Vo Nguyen Giap Street with 137 rooms and 274 beds, charges VND 1.3 million and VND 1.7 million per night in a single room and in a double room respectively.

2. The 3- star Parze Ocean Hotel located at 13 on Duong Dinh Nghe Street, with 90 rooms and 180 beds, prices VND 1.3 million VND a night for a room which can accommodate two persons.

3. The 3- star Minh Toan Athena Hotel located at 162 on the September 2 Street with 60 rooms and 97 beds, rates VND 1 million and VND 1.2 million per night in a single room price and in a double room respectively.

(The amount covers 3 meals per day, taxes, accommodation and transport.)

According to the Da Nang municipal Department of Tourism, there are currently about 150 serviced accommodation establishments operating in Da Nang (including small hotels and guest houses). The remaining hotels are closing and have laid off their employees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Small hotels can offer cheap room rates but they have few rooms, without a kitchen, surveillance camera system and service staff. In addition, their staff members have yet to be trained to serve quarantining purposes. 

Mr Nguyen Xuan Binh, the Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism, said that in addition to the three above- mentioned hotels, the department has worked with other 3 and 4-star accommodation establishments to negotiate discounted hotel rates for arrivals and returnees from affected areas.

As a result, Sam Grand  with 70 rooms and Golden Rose III with 50 rooms, both located in Son Tra District, have agreed to offer room rates at VND 600,000 per night for a single room and VND 800,000 per night for a double room (covering 3 meals, taxes, accommodation, and transport).

The Department also proposed the municipal government to consider quarantining arrivals and returnees from affected areas in the government-arranged accommodation to minimize quarantine costs for them.

Reporting by THU HA –Translating by H.L