As of 14 June, 11 speedboats and trip boats have been re-licensed to resume operations on Da Nang’s Han River.  They are the Phu Quy 1 and 2, Ocean Tour, Bien Dao Viet, Bao Anh 2, Song Han 1 and 2, Tau Rong Song Han, Minh Tran 2, Faifo and Vo Nhat Quy.  Other boats are also likely to be re-licensed very soon.

Each boat is required to display notices featuring the maximum number of passengers permitted, the life jacket regulations, and the hotlines for receiving and dealing with any visitor complaints.  The city’s Inland Waterway Authority offers the hotline 05113 990422, the waterway traffic police 05113 821306, and the local border guards 05113 822522.  

A passenger being helped into a life jacket

The Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, Mr Tran Chi Cuong, said that an average of between 600 and 700 visitors enjoyed evening river tours each night up to the capsizing of the Thao Van 2 trip boat on 4 June.  When trips resumed on 14 June, there were only 200 passengers in total.

Mr Cuong added that the trip boats have had their safety systems inspected by local relevant agencies before they were allowed to restart operations.  This included checking the VHF radio systems, emergency lights, and whistles.  In addition, surveillance cameras have been installed on the boats in order to monitor the performance of the captains and crew members.  Images will be recorded and sent to the Da Nang Port authorities. 

Mr Le Van Phu, the owner of the Phu Quy 1, said “After the incident of the Thao Van 2 trip boat, my boat saw a decrease of between 50% and 70% in the number of passengers.  On the evening of 14 June, my boat operated 2 trips carrying 10 and 45 passengers respectively.  I hope that visitors will not turn their backs on the night tours on the Han river”.

Mrs Vu Thi Thanh Thuy from Hai Phong, who took an evening trip on the Bao Anh 2 on 14 June, said that she felt quite secure because lifejackets were provided for both adults and children. 

Chairman of the city’s Travel Association Cao Tri Dung suggested that, in addition to improving the safety of passengers, local trip boats operating on the Han River should diversify their river tourism products to attract more visitors.  For example, one of the boats organises a performance of Cham apsara dancing and provides tour guides onboard.