Currently, there is a total number of more than 500 tourist boats operating on Ha Long Bay, with a capacity of about 8,000 passengers per day. Evaluated as modern and rather safe, the tourist boats importantly contribute to tourism development of Ha Long Bay in particular and Quang Ninh in general.
On April 1st, 2016, QuangNinh Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 998/QD-UBND on the plan to improve the quality and management of tourist boats operating on Ha Long Bay by 2020. Accordingly, the tourist boat's quality will gradually be improved in terms of design, services, technical conditions, safety standards, environmental protection, as well as fire prevention and fighting in an attempt to satisfying the increasing demands of tourists, contributingto preserving and promoting the values of the Ha Long Bay World Natural Heritage.
In respond to the Decision, QuangNinh Department of Transport launched a ship model designing contest. Three models that could meet criteria for improving quality such as: Stability, general architectural space arrangement, and specifications which are suitable to the requirements of available fairways, routes or ports.
Besides the Transport Department, the People Committee of Ha Long City and other functional authorities have also resolutely stopped the operation of ineligible or expired ships on the bay; Moreover, waste collection equipment was installed on all the ships. At the same time, the professional qualifications and skills of crew members and boat drivers have been paid with special attention to.
It can be seen that the tourist ships transporting tourists around Ha Long Bay for many years have gradually been refined with strict requirements of technique, aesthetics and service quality to ensure all the best conditions for tourists. Some of the tourist ships with high tech equipment have created the connectivity, synchronization and built a brand of the best tourist ships in Vietnam.
Translated by Hue Linh
