On the afternoon of 5/5, leaders of the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism announced that initial inspection results confirmed Ho Nui Lo – the site of an incident on the morning of 3/5 – was not authorized to host official flyboard performances.

All flyboard performance and experience activities in Ninh Binh are currently suspended for comprehensive inspection and review. The Department of Tourism has requested relevant units to clarify the cause and responsibility of the organizations and individuals involved. Activities will only be considered for resumption once they meet all safety conditions as regulated.

Previously, from 30/4 to 2/5, flyboard performances were held at Ho Ky Lan (in the same Hoa Lu ward). These activities had specific plans, complied with regulations, and took place safely, attracting many tourists during the holiday period. The program was a collaboration between Hoa Lu Tourism Joint Stock Company and Professional Kitesurfing Training Brand Limited Liability Company.

On the morning of 3/5, the units moved to the Ho Nui Lo area, about 500 meters from Ho Ky Lan, for survey and technical testing. This location was not authorized for official performances. At approximately 10:30 h, while athlete Pham Truong Anh was operating the equipment for a female tourist to experience, the flyboard unexpectedly lost control, causing both to fall into the water. The female tourist quickly surfaced and reached a nearby canoe, while the athlete became entangled in the equipment at his feet and sank deep into the lake.

Support forces and local residents searched for and brought the victim ashore in a state of drowning and unconsciousness, transferring him to the hospital for emergency treatment. Subsequently, the athlete was out of critical condition and his health gradually stabilized.

According to the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, the initial cause may have been trash or obstructions in the lake being sucked into the jet ski's water intake system, disrupting pressure and causing the equipment to become unstable. Information from the operating unit suggests that the water hose may have twisted and become caught in the propeller, preventing the operator from escaping in time.

A representative of the organizing unit admitted to a subjective factor: they agreed to let customers experience the activity without first cleaning the surveyed area. Participants were not equipped with life jackets, which was explained as necessary to ensure technical maneuvers during tandem flights.

Ho Nui Lo. Photo: Le Hoang

Flyboarding is an extreme sport that uses water pressure from a jet engine attached to a jet ski to lift the rider into the air and perform maneuvers. This sport was developed by Franky Zapata, a Frenchman, and was introduced to Vietnam over a decade ago, becoming popular at coastal tourist destinations such as Nha Trang and Mui Ne.

Ho Nui Lo is a freshwater lake spanning over 50 hectares with an average depth of 4-5 meters. It is part of the local tourism development plan but has not been licensed for extreme sports activities, and safety and rescue conditions are not fully established.

Le Hoang