Under a decision of the Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the owner of the tourist boat Black Pearl QN-6699 had to pay a fine of VND12.5 million (USD482.68).
A tourist falls into the sea while playing pickleball aboard the boat in Ha Long Bay on April 14 (Photo taken from the clip)
A video that went viral on social media shows two people playing pickleball on the deck of Black Pearl QN-6699 on April 14. The court was fully equipped, complete with marked lines, a net, and a surrounding area for spectators. But, while chasing the ball, a man suddenly fell off the deck into the bay.
The footage has stirred public concern over the safety of playing sports like pickleball on tourist boats.
According to the department, the case breaches administrative violations in the sports sector.
After the incident, the boat owner dismantled the entire pickleball court.
Earlier, the pickleball programme on the cruise was promoted on the organiser’s fan page starting from April 10. The event included a Ha Long Bay tour, buffet dinner, live entertainment, and friendly matches featuring international players such as Tyson McGuffin, Jack Sock, and Alex Walker. Tickets were priced at VND1.2 million per person.
