On June 21, many cruise ship owners on Ha Long Bay recorded video clips and photos of some local vendors attempting to convince tourists to buy souvenirs, fruits and seafood at exorbitant prices.
Despite objections, some wooden boats still approached the tourist cruise ships.
Cruise ship owners said the chase could pose traffic safety risks and tarnish the reputation of the world heritage bay.
This was not the first time tourists had been harassed by boat hawkers while visiting Ha Long.
Since 2015, local authorities have attempted to crack down on boat vendors to prevent tourists from being disturbed.
In 2017, authorities destroyed 36 wooden boats run by local vendors while the figure rose to 50 in 2018.
Since its recognition as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site in 1994, Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, around two hours from Hanoi, has become a popular tourist attraction.
