The Thang Long ferry, carrying 200 passengers, departed Cau Da port in Vung Tau for Con Dao at over 7:30. About one hour into the journey, the vessel slowed to a halt.

Nguyen Van Nghia, a passenger from Dak Lak, initially believed the ferry had made a temporary stop. However, crew members later informed passengers that the vessel had engine trouble and needed to return to port. The ferry's slow speed extended the return journey significantly.

The Thang Long ferry at Cau Da port, Vung Tau. *Truong Ha*

Nguyen Van Nghia and his wife were on a short vacation in Vung Tau, with plans to visit Con Dao before flying home on the afternoon of 3/8. The incident disrupted their itinerary. "We received a refund for the ferry ticket but had to cancel our flight, incurring a loss of over one million dong in fees", Nghia stated.

Vu Van Khuong, Director of Phu Quoc High-Speed Ferry Joint Stock Company, confirmed that two of the ferry's three main engines malfunctioned, leaving only one operational.

After assessing the vessel's condition, the captain decided to return to Vung Tau for safety. "With only one engine functioning, the ferry could not maintain its operational speed and had to turn back", Khuong explained.

Upon docking, the company offered refunds to passengers who chose not to continue their trip. For those still wishing to travel to Con Dao, arrangements were made to transfer them to a ferry departing from Tran De, Can Tho City.

The Thang Long is currently Vietnam's largest high-speed passenger ferry, serving the Vung Tau - Con Dao route, which spans approximately 180 km. The vessel measures over 77 m in length and nearly 9,5 m in width, featuring 4 decks and a maximum capacity of 1.017 passengers.

It is equipped with three German MTU engines, boasting a total power output of nearly 12.000 horsepower and a maximum speed of approximately 33 nautical miles per hour.

*Truong Ha*