Boats touring Hạ Long Bay will finish AIS setup by August 15th
Enhancing Safety in Ha Long Bay: AIS Installation and Emergency Measures
As of early August 2025, around 80% of the more than 500 tour boats operating in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, have been equipped with Automatic Identification System (AIS) devices [1][2][4][5]. This technology, mandatory for boats carrying over 50 passengers by national technical regulations, has been voluntarily adopted by operators of smaller vessels to enhance safety [2][4][5].
The AIS system allows vessels to automatically exchange key information such as identity, location, direction, speed, and other data with other ships and onshore stations. Integrated with Very High Frequency (VHF) radios (channel 16), the system ensures uninterrupted, broad, and stable communication independent of mobile networks [1][2][3][4].
Safety measures have been implemented to ensure the well-being of tourists visiting Ha Long Bay. These include continuous monitoring and real-time data transmission of vessel information to multiple agencies [1][4]. A military medical ship and two fast-response patrol boats have been deployed since August 6, 2025, maintaining 24/7 patrolling across Ha Long Bay, ready for rapid emergency response [1][2][4].
An inter-agency inspection team led by the provincial Department of Construction has been assessing AIS effectiveness and identifying temporary storm shelters in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bays [2][4][5]. Cooperation with the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology aims to install early-warning systems for thunderstorms, whirlwinds, and lightning in Ha Long Bay and surrounding coastal areas [4].
Mandatory inspections of vessels’ communication equipment by the provincial inland waterway port authority ensure operational readiness and communication reliability before issuing departure clearances [2][4][5]. Strengthened safety inspections are being conducted at ports and wharves in the northern province.
The provincial People's Committee is implementing the installation of an early warning system for meteorological phenomena at key locations, particularly in Ha Long Bay, Baí Tử Long Bay, and coastal areas [6]. The medical service ship in Ha Long Bay is equipped with four stretchers, oxygen tanks, fire extinguishers, and other emergency equipment for search and rescue operations.
In addition to safety enhancements, the province has introduced a range of new tourism products and continuously improved the quality of cruise services for Ha Long Bay tours, with a strong focus on tightening safety standards [7]. Multiple task forces are conducting closed-loop patrols along navigational routes, in coordination with port authorities.
In the first six months of the year, the local tourism sector welcomed approximately 12.1 million visitors, including around 2.3 million foreigners [8]. Quang Ninh aims to safely welcome 20 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million foreigners, and expects total tourism revenue to reach VNĐ50 trillion (US$1.9 billion) [9]. These ambitious goals, coupled with the safety measures put in place, aim to make Ha Long Bay a safer and more enjoyable destination for tourists.
[1] https://www.baomoi.com/quang-ninh-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-20250801135657440.chn [2] https://vietnamnet.vn/vn/thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-669233.html [3] https://www.baodautu.vn/tin-tuc/thoi-su/ngay-moi-quang-ninh-duoc-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-669118.htm [4] https://www.baoquangninh.vn/tin-tuc/du-lich/quang-ninh-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-669119.htm [5] https://www.baodautu.vn/tin-tuc/thoi-su/quang-ninh-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-669118.htm [6] https://www.baomoi.com/quang-ninh-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-20250801135657440.chn [7] https://www.baodautu.vn/tin-tuc/thoi-su/quang-ninh-duoc-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-669118.htm [8] https://www.baomoi.com/quang-ninh-duoc-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-20250801135657440.chn [9] https://www.baodautu.vn/tin-tuc/thoi-su/quang-ninh-duoc-ban-hanh-thu-mach-an-toan-cho-cong-tac-du-lich-o-ha-long-669118.htm
- The introduction of AI and advanced technology into the AIS system in Ha Long Bay is expected to further increase safety by providing weather forecasts and early warnings for storms, whirlwinds, and lightning, with support from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
- As the province of Quang Ninh strives to promote its tourism sector, with a goal of welcoming 20 million visitors in 2025, the focus on technology will also play a significant role in enhancing travel experiences, as new tourism products are introduced and the quality of cruise services is continuously improved.
- The increasing reliance on technology in Ha Long Bay not only pertains to safety measures but also extends to the lifestyle of tourists, with the potential for AI-powered devices to offer personalized and seamless travel experiences, making the destination more enjoyable for a broader range of visitors.
