Thousands of Vietnamese tourists have booked tours to Japan’s cherry blossom festival, which is scheduled in late March and early April. However, many tours will be canceled due to the recent earthquake and tsunami.

Tuyet Mai, representative of Fiditour, said Fiditour could not get in contact with its Japanese partners right now and tours to Japan in March would be canceled.

A Vietravel representative said that tours to Tokyo would not be affected but at present and in the next few days, Vietravel would not hold any tours to Japan.

Saigontourist and some travel firms in HCMCity also confirmed that they are not sending any visitor to Japan this time.

Hanoi Redtour’s Deputy Director Nguyen Cong Hoan said that his firm has booked three tours to Japan’s cherry blossom festival in late March. “The Japanese partner said that the tours would not be affected by earthquake and tsunami but we still have to wait and double check the information. We have 15 days to prepare for these tours and I hope everything will be fine,” Hoan said.

Vietran Tour said that tours to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto would not be canceled.