On 28/7, the government office issued a document conveying deputy prime minister Nguyen Hoa Binh's directives following the boat capsizing in Ha Long bay. The document referenced a government information portal report summarizing a 22/7 VnExpress article, "Safety gaps exposed by the sinking of Vinh Xanh 58".
According to the article, the Vinh Xanh was designed taller than standard but lacked an automatic emergency beacon. Supervisory agencies failed to promptly detect when the vessel's GPS was disconnected. The boat capsized over one kilometer from Tuan Chau island and three kilometers from the mainland, yet authorities were notified two hours later, as reported by senior colonel Hoang Van Thuyet, political commissar of the Quang Ninh provincial military command.
The deputy prime minister directed the government office to forward the VnExpress article to the ministry of construction, requesting them to propose management solutions and report to the prime minister by 15/8.
 |
Tourist boats docked in Ha Long bay on the morning of 28/7. Photo: Le Tan |
Tourist boats docked in Ha Long bay on the morning of 28/7. Photo: Le Tan
The same day, during a regular meeting, the standing committee of the Quang Ninh provincial party committee instructed relevant agencies to thoroughly review safety and security measures for tour boats operating in Ha Long bay and Bai Tu Long bay, given the increasingly extreme weather conditions.
Quang Ninh provincial leaders called for the implementation of technology to manage passengers and vessels upon departure from the port. They also requested specific guidelines for vessels in emergencies to enable authorities to promptly deploy rescue and recovery efforts.
At 1:30 p.m. on 19/7, the Vinh Xanh 58, carrying 49 people (46 passengers and three crew members), capsized in Ha Long bay due to a storm. By 2:05 p.m., the vessel's GPS connection was lost. Authorities received notification at 3:30 p.m. and initiated rescue operations. The incident resulted in 39 fatalities and 10 survivors. This is Vietnam's deadliest maritime accident in 20 years.
Le Tan
