Authorities of Ha Long city in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh will coordinate with relevant agencies to evaluate service quality of tourist boats operating on Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays from November 15 to December 25. Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) The inspections will focus on technical safety, firefighting, search and rescue capacity, and environmental protection equipment, and other facilities of the boats, as well as labour law enforcement of boat owners and crew members. Ha Long city is managing 504 tourist boats, with 478 on Ha Long Bay and the others on Bai Tu Long Bay. Ho Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ha Long city, said the locality has so far this year suspended operations of 36 tourist boats and 15 crew members, and forced 41 boats to stop operations. Since 2017, Ha Long has destroyed 80 vessels that violated regulations on managing, protecting and promoting heritage values of Ha Long Bay. Ha Long Bay literally … [Read more...] about Halong city to inspect operations of tourist boats
Boating georgian bay
Ha Long city to inspect operations of tourist boats
Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA) Quang Ninh (VNA) – Authorities of Ha Long city in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh will coordinate with relevant agencies to evaluate service quality of tourist boats operating on Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays from November 15 to December 25. The inspections will focus on technical safety, firefighting, search and rescue capacity, and environmental protection equipment, and other facilities of the boats, as well as labour law enforcement of boat owners and crew members. Ha Long city is managing 504 tourist boats, with 478 on Ha Long Bay and the others on Bai Tu Long Bay. Ho Quang Huy, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ha Long city, said the locality has so far this year suspended operations of 36 tourist boats and 15 crew members, and forced 41 boats to stop operations. Since 2017, Ha Long has destroyed 80 vessels that violated regulations on managing, protecting and promoting heritage values of Ha Long Bay. … [Read more...] about Ha Long city to inspect operations of tourist boats
Environmental protection in Ha Long Bay: A top priority
(VEN) - Ha Long City in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh is facing environmental problems due to the growing number of visitors drawn by its world-famous emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands. Ha Long City will diversify tourist attractions to ease pressure on the core area of Ha Long Bay The number of visitors to Ha Long has increased yearly to reach 3.14 million in 2016 (up 22 percent from 2015) and 3.92 million in 2017 (up 24.7 percent from 2016). Almost 29,000 people visited Ha Long Bay daily during the peak season so far this year, creating growing pressure on the world heritage preservation site. Ho Quang Huy, Deputy Chairman of the Ha Long City People’s Committee told Vietnam Economic News that the committee has worked with the Ha Long Bay Management Unit, the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), the provincial departments of transport and tourist, and vessel associations to improve the community’s awareness of … [Read more...] about Environmental protection in Ha Long Bay: A top priority
Hải Phòng tightens boat inspection after tourist complaint
Viet Nam News HẢI PHÒNG — The northern city of Hải Phòng’s People’s Committee has established an inter-sectoral inspection group to examine inland waterway vehicles, including tourist boats, operating in the city. The move comes after a scandal reported by an Australian tourist in the middle of last month. Nguyễn Văn Luyến, chief secretary of the office of the city’s Road Safety Committee, said inter-sectoral inspectors were expected to examine all inland waterway vessels and passenger boats in the city from May 29 to June 9. “Vehicles that fail to meet operational requirements will be suspended,” he said. According to the city’s Transport Department, there are 322 steel boats, 171 wooden boats, 55 aluminium boats and 19 fibre-reinforced plastic ships and boats operating in the city’s waters. Of these, 15 are registered to operate on four fixed routes: Bến Bính-Cát … [Read more...] about Hải Phòng tightens boat inspection after tourist complaint
Hạ Long Bay’s water under threats
Viet Nam News QUẢNG NINH — The water environment in the world-renowned Hạ Long Bay has been under tremendous pressure from the growing socio-economic activities in the area. Recognised twice by the UNESCO as the global heritage, Hạ Long Bay remains one of the country’s top attractions – drawing in 9.87 million tourists last year, of which, 4.28 million are foreign tourists, bringing in US$797 million in revenues, up 30 per cent against 2016. Everyone it seems wants a slice of the pie with a boom in accommodation – 12,000 rooms, 80 hotels, and 512 cruises (including overnight ones). Overload threats Phạm Đình Huỳnh, deputy head of the Bay’s management board, said the international recognition of the Bay has been a boom to the province’s development but also causes a lot of troubles for the authorities. Hạ Long Bay is not just a purely tourist site. Several vital socio-economic activities make use of … [Read more...] about Hạ Long Bay’s water under threats
Businesses urged to protect Ha Long Bay
The meeting, which was organised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), included discussions on extending Ha Long Bay to include Cat Ba Archipelago in the northern port city of Hai Phong. The businesses discussed measures to promote private investment in improving wastewater treatment for more than 500 cruise vessels operating in Ha Long Bay and the Cat Ba archipelago. A report on the alliance’s initiatives to develop a wastewater treatment system was presented at the meeting, based on the results of interviews and research conducted with large cruise companies in Ha Long on the need for a wastewater system in Tuan Chau Port and the feasibility of applying the environmentally-friendly Green Lotus label on cruise boats. The meeting also heard several solutions to solve wastewater management issues in the bay, including the diversification of financial support and the … [Read more...] about Businesses urged to protect Ha Long Bay
Thung Nai – miniature of Ha Long Bay in northwest
Located 110 km from Hanoi, Thung Nai is a large valley surrounded by forests and mountains which are home to a large number of deer. In the afternoon, the deer come to the Da river to drink.The construction of the Hoa Binh hydro power plant in 1994 created a large lake in the valley. Seen from above, the valley is spectacular.Thung Nai is most crowded in the spring because that’s the best time to admire its beauty. Visitors can also explore Thac Bo cave and temple, Thac Bo market, and villages of the Muong ethnic minority.From Thung Nai wharf, visitors can take boat tours around the lake. Their first stop is Thac Bo temple which honors two women of the Muong and Dao ethnic minorities who helped King Le Thai To cross the river to fight enemies in 1431. The two women are now worshiped as Thac Bo genies.Dang Thi Lien from the Thac Bo temple said, “You need a boat to reach the Bo temple. You can never forget a tour of Thung Nai and Thac Bo temple. The scenery is so marvelous … [Read more...] about Thung Nai – miniature of Ha Long Bay in northwest
Halong Bay boat crash prosecuted
On October 4, the police agency of Quang Ninh province issued a decision to prosecute the serious shipwreck in Ha Long Bay, which killed five people.The same day, the police arrested Mac Van Duong, 36, from Dong Lac commune, Nam Sach district, Hai Duong province.Duong is the captain of the boath Paradise QN 6688, which is owned bythe 5-star Tuan Chau Paradise Cruises JSC, and also the driver of thesmall boat carrying 18 Taiwanese tourists at the time of the accident.Duong is currently in custody for investigation of violations of the provisions of waterway transport control.Earlier, the accident occurred at about 3.30pm of October 3. A smallboat that was carrying 18 passengers from Sung Sot Cave to the touristboat Paradise QN-6688 collided with vessel East Room QN-1402. The forceof impact was so strong that the small boat was capsized and sank,taking all 18 tourists.Rescuers went to the scene very quickly but they could rescue only 13people. The remaining five people died, including … [Read more...] about Halong Bay boat crash prosecuted
Wooden boats to disappear from Halong Bay
Wooden boats to disappear from Halong BayBy Dao Loan - The Saigon Times DailyThe plan also proposes that unqualified cruise boats will bereplaced. Boat construction will also be strictly monitored to ensure safety.Enterprises, when asking for new boats, must submit theirplans to local authorities, in addition to obeying the current regulations.In the aftermath of the Truong Hai 06 tourist boat sinkingthat killed 12 sleeping people in February this year, Quang Ninh issuedDecision 716 tightening the management of tourist transport and junks withsleeping rooms in Halong Bay.The decision regulates many terms for cruise boat serviceproviders, involving boat specifications, human resources and services. Thefour types of boat allowed to sail on the bay are classified as first class,second class, third class and qualified, each of which has definitespecifications and service life.There are currently 500 cruise boats serving as touristtransportation and residence on Halong Bay with many of them … [Read more...] about Wooden boats to disappear from Halong Bay
Quang Ninh looks to improve safety of boats on Ha Long Bay
The People's Committee of northern Quang Ninh Province is considering tightening regulations for boats staying overnight in Ha Long Bay, with vessels not meeting standards banned from operating, said Deputy Chairman of the committee Dang Huy Hau. The regulations will clearly define the number of lifejackets on board, minimum motor power, and captain's qualifications. Hau said that local authorities had inspected 135 of the 151 tourism ships staying overnight on the bay. All of the inspected ships had the correct permits for over-night stays and most of them met safety regulations. However, some of fire fighting equipment and pumps on some boats did not meet the necessary capacity. Some boat cabins were in poor condition and lacked lifejackets, he said. The remaining 16 ships will be checked in the next ing days. "Local authorities will establish a specialised team to regularly supervise all vessels spending nights on the bay," said Hau. Tourists, especially foreigners, will … [Read more...] about Quang Ninh looks to improve safety of boats on Ha Long Bay