Every year, the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay welcomes millions of domestic and foreign tourists, including many high-ranking international delegations. During peak days, hundreds of ships continuously depart to take visitors on exciting journeys on the Bay. The Ha Long Bay Management Board, together with the authorities, has applied strict procedures to ensure the safety of visitors.
Putting safety as the number 1 criterion for each ship leaving the port, Ha Long Bay Management Board and related units maintain coordination in organizing propaganda campaigns, disseminating compliance with legal regulations, directives on fire prevention, prevention, response, overcoming consequences of natural disasters, search and rescue for ship owners, crew members, organizations, businesses, individuals operating in Ha Long Bay. Every year, Ha Long Bay Management Board, Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department (Provincial Police), Quang Ninh Medical College coordinate to organize training courses, professional training, issue certificates of fire prevention and rescue training, first aid, transporting victims at sea, diving and rescue for officers, employees of units, organizations, individuals operating in Ha Long Bay. Thereby contributing to ensuring quick and effective response and handling of emergency situations occurring in the Bay.
The Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department (Provincial Police) has increased surprise inspections of compliance with safety regulations of vehicles before issuing orders to leave the port. During times of rough seas and storms hitting Ha Long Bay, functional units issue orders banning ships and closely coordinate in implementing plans to prevent, combat, and respond to natural disasters.
In November 2024, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department organized 5 inspections of fire prevention, search and rescue work at units under the Bay Management Board and 9 businesses operating in the Bay to have plans to supplement and replace missing or old and damaged fire prevention and rescue equipment. On ships and tourist attractions, regulations, signs, and danger signs are fully installed in necessary areas and appropriate measures are taken to notify tourists and implement them. Units arrange forces and means of protection and rescue in necessary areas to support tourists; post the unit's hotline number for tourists to contact when unexpected incidents occur. Ms. Ella Hebron (American tourist) shared: "My friends and I had a wonderful trip to Ha Long Bay. Not only did we get to see the amazing scenery behind thousands of rocky islands and enjoy dishes with unique flavors, our trip was also very convenient and safe. I will definitely come back here."
To strengthen the management and supervision of the activities of tourist transport vessels visiting and staying in the Bay, the Bay Management Board has signed contracts for anchoring, turning around, and docking in the Bay with 268 organizations, enterprises, and business households that are owners of 426 tourist transport vessels staying in the Bay. The authorities regularly inspect and grant licenses to vessels operating in ports and wharves through the deployment of integrated IT applications, connecting AIS devices (vessel identification communication systems) installed on the vessels to the tourist vessel management system to accurately track, inspect, and supervise the itinerary.
The Bay Management Board closely coordinated with the Water Police Team (Ha Long City Police) and the Border Guard Station of Hon Gai Port to patrol, monitor, and prevent vehicles carrying tourists to visit some caves and islands that are not on the route, and tourist attractions that have not been announced to welcome tourists according to regulations.
However, issues related to security and safety of tourist boats visiting and staying in the Bay, the situation of "rip-off", price gouging and uncivilized and impolite behavior towards tourists still sometimes occur. Immediately after receiving information from tourists and social networking sites, Ha Long City and functional forces quickly verified and strictly handled any violations if any.
Thanks to good inspection and training work, since the beginning of 2024, functional units have quickly handled and resolved 9 incidents occurring in Ha Long Bay to ensure accuracy and efficiency; including 5 rescue cases, 3 search cases, 1 case related to a sunken ship incident. Thereby ensuring the reception of over 2.6 million visitors (over 1.5 million international visitors), nearly 100,000 vehicles leaving ports and wharves to take visitors to the Bay to ensure security, safety and regulations.
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