With a network of rivers and coastlines covering nearly the entire city, Da Nang shows off an advantage in developing inland waterway passenger transport. However, these advantages have yet to be exploited commensurate with their potential, especially in the field of tourist passenger transport as well as ensuring traffic safety in this field.

Tourist boats operate on the Han River. Photo: THANH LAN

Strictly control traffic waterway transport means

The Da Nang government has issued a plan to develop inland waterway passenger transport activities in Da Nang by 2025, with a vision towards 2030, in order to improve the quality of passenger transport services by inland waterways, meet the needs of socio-economic development and in tandem with ensuring the operation of passenger transport means along inland waterway routes.

Mr. Nguyen Phung Hien, the Deputy Chief Inspector of the municipal Department of Transport said that, in addition to the current regulations on transporting tourists, inland waterway vessels must be inspected and certified by the registry office in accordance with the National Technical Regulation and they shall operate in the registered scope of inland waterways. When the vehicle is operating in the Da Nang Bay and the waters off Da Nang seaports, its captain must bear responsibility for making notification to the Da Nang Maritime Port Authority.

According to the Office of Transport, Vehicles and Drivers under the municipal Department of Transport, this agency has mapped put a plan to develop the fleet of tourst boats in a diversified direction, with priority given to encouraging ships with modern designs that meet environmental protection regulations and are suitable for the landscape on transport routes.

It is a need to develop inland waterway transport routes to make connection between the city centre with tourist sites such as tourist resorts, attractions, amusement parks and entertainment points as well as mull over turning some of the current routes into green ones.

In particular, the size and operation capacity of the means registered to operate on the transport route must be consistent with the technical grade of the inland waterway channels, the port's or wharf's handling capacity.

Tourist boats must be certified by a competent police agency in terms of fire prevention and fire fighting. Electricity and green energy-powered inland waterway vehicles are highly recommended.

With regard to equipment, after January 1, 2018, vessels operating in Da Nang must be equipped with an onboard lightning protection and backup lighting systems; sewage separation or wastewater collection equipment systems that are applicable to floating restaurants, that are vessels, usually large steel barges or hulks, used as restaurants on water; and onboard surveillance cameras to ensure observation of passenger compartments.

Specifying operating hours for each route

After a long time due to the impact of COVID-19, tourist transport activities have started to prosper again. Mr. Do Huu Minh, the owner of the Tich Thien Duong ancient house, a tourist attraction located in the planning of the Han River - Hoa Vang District-based Thai Lai Communal Village House tourist route, hoped that the city would soon put it into operation so as to bring as many tourists as possible by waterway to attractions in Hoa Vang District, especially Thai Lai eco-tourism area.

Sharing the same view, representatives of the Lang Me tourist campsite area in Nam Yen Village, Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District suggested the city to expand the list of destinations along the Cu De - Truong Dinh river route up to near Pho Nam Bridge so that tourists can have easy access to tourist attractions in Hoa Bac Commune, instead of the Truong Dinh Bridge as currently.

According to tourist Nguyen Tran Ha Thao from Ho Chi Minh City, she herself likes taking a boat ride on the iconic Han River very much. Travelling on this river is a must-try as tourists can comfortably discover the beauty of the river while admiring the beautiful bridges of ‘ Song Han’ (Han River), ‘Rong’ (Dragon), Nguyen Van Troi and Tran Thi Ly.

As reported by Deputy Director in charge of the municipal Department of Transport Bui Hong Trung, according to the newly issued plan, the city will develop 7 inland waterway tourism routes on which a total of 151 tourist boats are expected to operate.

As their timetables, tourist boats on the Han River - Tran Thi Ly Bridge route operate from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m; the Han River - the Da Nang Bay from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; the Cu De River - Truong Dinh route from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., especially the floating restaurant boat ends before 11:00 p.m. the Cu De River - Da Nang Bay route from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m, especially floating restaurants before 11:00 p.m.. The route to the Son Tra Peninsula from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m; river transport route from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m; waterway transport routes from the shore to the island from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Of special notes, floating restaurants along these routes must close before 11:00 p.m.

Reporting by THANH LAN - Translating by A.THU