Boat vendors return to hassling tourists on Ha Long Bay

Authorities in Ha Long Bay are stepping up inspections of boat vendors who have recently reappeared at the UNESCO Heritage site.

Authorities in Ha Long Bay are stepping up inspections of boat vendors who have recently reappeared at the UNESCO Heritage site.

A vendor boat seized in Ha Long Bay on February 28.

The Ha Long Bay Management Board reported detecting two wooden boats operated by local vendors on Wednesday. The vendors were attempting to approach tourists on cruise ships near Trong Mai Islet.

The boats, QN 67264-TST owned by Tran Van Quan and QN 3544 TS owned by Pham Van Tien, were brought to shore, and their owners were fined for the violations.

According to the Ha Long Bay Management Board, it has recently addressed 15 boats attempting to sell souvenirs, fruits, and seafood to tourists at exorbitant prices.

"We are intensifying our inspections to curb the problem," the board stated.

Since 2015, local authorities have been working to clamp down on boat vendors to protect tourists from disturbance.

In 2017, authorities destroyed 36 wooden boats operated by local vendors and increased to 50 in 2018.

Since its designation as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994, Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, located about two hours from Hanoi, has become a popular tourist destination.