Security and safety for tourists in Ha Long Bay

It is forecasted that in 2025, the number of tourists visiting and staying in Ha Long Bay will continue to increase sharply, especially during the April 30-May 1 holiday. With the view that the safety of people and tourists is the highest goal, the provincial authorities are strengthening solutions to ensure traffic safety and order for vehicles transporting tourists on the Bay.

Functional sectors coordinate to inspect and review safety conditions for tourist boats in Ha Long Bay, March 2025.

In order to best prepare all conditions for tourists visiting and staying in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay, from mid-March 2025, the Department of Construction will coordinate with the Traffic Police Department (Provincial Police), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Ha Long Bay Management Board to jointly inspect and review all tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Focusing on checking the vehicle's records and documents according to regulations and standards, and technical safety conditions of the vehicle such as: Safety equipment, tools, fire prevention and environmental protection; disaster prevention, rescue, security and order; certificates of professional competence, professional certificates according to regulations of crew members and service staff on board; installation of GPS or AIS journey monitoring equipment, cameras and communication systems on board; management of collection and treatment of wastewater, bilge water, solid waste, etc.

Authorities inspect environmental protection work, manage collection and treatment of wastewater, bilge water, and solid waste on cruise ships.

Mr. Mac Duc Son, Head of the Department of Transport, Vehicle and Driver Management (Department of Construction), head of the interdisciplinary inspection team, said: Through the inspection, the authorities promptly discovered shortcomings and problems to guide the cruise ship owners to take remedial measures or recommend temporary suspension of operations for ships that do not meet the prescribed operating conditions, in order to improve service quality, ensure safety, and protect the environment in the operation of cruise ships transporting visitors to Ha Long Bay. The vehicle owners must fix the problems (if any) before April 25 to best serve tourists during the upcoming April 30 - May 1 holiday.

On average, Ha Long Bay currently welcomes nearly 10,000 visitors and stays on the Bay every day, which is expected to increase sharply in the 2025 summer tourist season. Due to the characteristics of the Bay, there are many intersections between tourist routes and inland waterway and maritime freight routes; in order to ensure security and order, traffic safety and order for tourists, the Traffic Police Department (Provincial Police) requires the unit's Waterway Police Team to prepare plans to ensure security and safety for visitors and stays on Ha Long Bay.

Authorities check communication between the cruise ship and the Ha Long Bay Rescue Center and other authorities.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Dam, Deputy Captain of the Waterway Police Team (Traffic Police Department, Provincial Police), said: In addition to strengthening propaganda and guidance to people, tourists, vehicle owners, crew members, and people working on vehicles on regulations to ensure order and safety of waterway traffic; the unit strictly implements the duty of being on duty with 100% of its personnel during holidays, Tet, and the last 2 days of the week. At the same time, it mobilizes maximum equipment and means to increase patrols and control on routes and waterways; coordinates with the port authority to regularly check the safety conditions of vehicles before granting permission to leave the port; strictly handles violations that pose potential safety risks, especially acts of crew members using alcohol and stimulants during their shifts.

Authorities inspect compliance with regulations prohibiting the use of alcohol during shifts for captains, crew members and employees on cruise ships.

In March 2025, the Waterway Police Team coordinated with relevant agencies to ensure security and safety for 8,882 cruises visiting Ha Long Bay/233,089 passengers (193,222 international passengers); 2,780 overnight stays on the Bay/81,029 passengers (77,060 international passengers). Through patrolling and controlling, the unit detected and handled 62 cases of violations of inland waterway traffic safety, and handed over 5 cases of violations of fishing regulations to competent authorities for handling according to regulations.

Hong Viet

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/tang-cuong-dam-bao-ttatgt-vinh-ha-long-mua-du-lich-he-3352171.html