Some tourists have canceled visits to the bay following the Ha Long boat capsizing incident.
- 24 thg 7, 2025
- 4 phút đọc
Worried and unsettled after the boat capsizing incident in Ha Long, some tourists have canceled or postponed their bay tours.
Following the accident in Hạ Long Bay and concerns over the impact of Typhoon Wipha, a group of 20 employees from a tech company in Hanoi tried to postpone their planned team-building trip to Hạ Long (Quảng Ninh) scheduled for this weekend. However, the travel agency refused, stating that the storm had already dissipated and the deposit for the bay tour was non-refundable under the contract. Unable to cancel the trip entirely, the group kept the schedule but decided to skip the bay excursion and instead organized recreational activities on land.
“Our entire office was shaken; no one dared to go down to the bay anymore,” shared Mr. Anh Vũ. “We renegotiated with the tour company and accepted losing the 5 million VND deposit for the boat trip to switch to a safer itinerary.”
Brenda, a tourist from Mexico, said she had toured Hạ Long Bay on a cruise from July 17 to 19 and was now in Hanoi. Her group went on a boat tour of the bay on the same day the Vịnh Xanh 58 capsized. She said her group returned to shore earlier, around 12–1 p.m., so they were not near the accident site. She learned about the incident from a Canadian friend back home.
“When I heard the news, I was very shocked, saddened for the victims, and felt grateful that I was safe. It was frightening to think that I could have been one of them,” the tourist said.
On July 19, the Vịnh Xanh 58 boat, carrying 46 passengers and 3 crew members, was struck by a sudden squall while touring Route No. 2 of Hạ Long Bay, causing it to capsize. The incident resulted in 37 deaths, 2 people missing, and 10 survivors.
Several boat and cruise operators in Hạ Long reported that the tragic accident occurred just as Typhoon Wipha was making landfall, leading many tourists to panic and cancel their trips. One cruise operator, who mainly serves international guests, said that most cancellations occurred on July 24–25.
“Our boat has 20 cabins and typically hosts 20–30 guests per trip. Around 10 guests have canceled, mostly during this week,” the owner said, adding that they hope travelers’ confidence and marine tourism in Hạ Long will gradually stabilize within 7–10 days.
A representative from Paradise Vietnam shared that their company had proactively adjusted and rescheduled tours for guests starting from July 19, while awaiting official announcements to resume operations. Approximately 10–15% of customers canceled or postponed their trips, while most others rescheduled for the following week. The cruise line has also extended the validity of postponed bookings to give guests more flexibility. New bookings are still being accepted.
Dr. Justin Matthew Pang, Senior Program Manager of Tourism and Hospitality Management at RMIT University Vietnam, stated that “during this sensitive time and in the future, boat operators must be fully aware of their responsibility to ensure passenger safety.”
According to him, all boats should adopt the highest safety standards—from monitoring passenger capacity and providing enough life jackets, requiring passengers to wear them throughout the journey, to equipping vessels with first-aid kits and complete rescue gear. Boat operators should install signs indicating the location of life-saving equipment, play safety instruction videos or provide illustrated guidance before departure, similar to airline procedures. These actions will raise awareness, gradually build a culture of safety, and eliminate complacent behavior. In the long run, this is also a way to develop a safety-first, sustainable tourism model governed by responsible standards.
Dr. Pang cited the 2014 MV Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea as an example. The ferry, carrying 476 people including 250 students, capsized en route from Incheon to Jeju, resulting in 304 deaths and shocking the entire country. “It took years for the Korean people to recover from the trauma, tighten safety regulations, and build grassroots community monitoring organizations,” said Dr. Pang.
He emphasized that the recent accident in Hạ Long could leave a deep “scar” on the local tourism industry. Authorities need to reinforce their duty of care toward passengers and require boat operators to prioritize safety in order to regain the trust of both tourists and the community.
Safety consultants should be invited to Hạ Long to study the impact of tropical storms and share best practices and standards with locals, business owners, tourism leaders, and maritime associations.
“The lesson from the Sewol reminds us that Hạ Long must not treat this as an isolated accident, but as a wake-up call to raise maritime safety standards to the highest level. Otherwise, the consequences may be long-lasting and deeply damaging to the entire community,” Dr. Pang warned.
Bích Phương
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