After decades of absence, the distinctive reddish-brown sails of traditional three-panel boats have returned toHa Long Bay, once again becoming a vivid symbol amid the World Natural Heritage site.
At Cong Muong Village in Lien Hoa Ward, Quang Ninh Province, the family shipyard of artisan Le Duc Chan still resonates daily with the sounds of drilling, cutting and carving. At the age of 77, the 17th-generation descendant of the Le Duc family remains devoted to preserving the family's unique traditional boatbuilding craft.
The revival of these traditional sailing boats is not merely the story of a single artisan family. It also represents Quang Ninh province strategic efforts to create distinctive tourism products rooted in local cultural heritage. Today, the iconic red sails gliding proudly across the waters of Ha Long Bay carry not only the ingenuity and pride of past generations, but also the aspiration to build a green tourism brand that reflects Vietnamese cultural identity and gains international recognition.
By Bich Hang
