Many Vietnamese travel companies have canceled or suspended most tours to Iran, Israel, and some Middle Eastern countries due to concerns over safety there following the assassination of an ex-Hamas leader.
Max Vu, CEO of Fit Tour, which specializes in operating tours to the Middle East and North Africa, said since the tension between Iran and Israel began to escalate in October last year, the company has canceled four delegations’ bookings for tours to Jordan-Israel-Palestine-Egypt.
Each tour, priced at VND110-125 million (US$4,353-4,946) per person, offers a valuable experience as travelers journey through culturally diverse destinations.
An October tour to Iran was canceled, and all tourists who booked this trip have received full refunds of their deposits.
Although the tour cancelations result in losses for the company, Thang stated that the decision was necessary to ensure the safety of tourists and mitigate risks for the company.
Tran Thi Bao Thu, director of marketing and communications at Vietluxtour Travel JSC, announced that the company had suspended tours to the Middle East, specifically Israel, Palestine, and Iran.
However, tours to Dubai continue, with the company sending one to two groups of tourists there each month.
On Monday, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that escalating tensions between Lebanon, Iran, and Israel pose risks to people’s safety and property.
The ministry advised Vietnamese citizens to avoid traveling to Lebanon, Iran, and Israel during this period.
Vietnamese nationals currently in Lebanon are urged to move to a third country or return to Vietnam as soon as possible.
The ministry also advised Vietnamese citizens in the region to adhere to local security and safety guidelines, and to stay updated through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs via consular departments or Vietnamese embassies in Egypt, Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries for timely responses.
For urgent support, Vietnamese citizens should contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Lebanon at +201 02 613 9869, the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran at +98 21 224 11670, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel at +972 50 818 6116, or the citizen protection hotline of the Consular Department at +84 981 84 84 84.
Ismail Haniyeh, the ex-leader of the Palestinian group Hamas, was assassinated in the Iranian capital Tehran early on July 31, an attack that drew threats of revenge on Israel and fueled further concern that the conflict in Gaza was turning into a wider Middle East war, Reuters reported.
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