On 19/7, two cruise ships, Ambassador Cruise and Sea Octopus, held fireworks displays and entertainment activities while authorities and families searched for victims of a boat capsizing in Ha Long Bay. Some tourists onboard livestreamed the fireworks, sparking mixed reactions online.

Fireworks display on the Ambassador Cruise. Photo: Ambassador Cruise

Fireworks display on the Ambassador Cruise. Photo: Ambassador Cruise

Many tourists reported hearing ambulance sirens echoing throughout Ha Long on the evening of 19/7 and questioned why cruises were still holding fireworks displays near the shore.

"Watching the livestream of the fireworks from the Ha Long Bay cruise, I wondered how they could proceed as normal while rescue teams were struggling to search for survivors," Ha Viet from Hanoi shared.

Thuy Anh, who works in the Ha Long tourism sector, found the cruises' decision to launch fireworks and play music near the search and rescue operation "unacceptable."

"It's insensitive and unprofessional. I saw some comments suggesting the ships lost internet connection and couldn't get updated information, but that's unreasonable. The incident happened in the afternoon, and the fireworks were at 9 PM," Thuy Anh said, adding that many entertainment venues and cruises limited their festivities that evening. Bai Chay Valley, usually bustling with activity, had toned down its music.

Some argued that the companies had publicly apologized and that tourists shouldn't be too harsh. One tourist who had previously cruised Ha Long Bay explained that the ships often cater to both Vietnamese and international guests. The highlight of these tours is often the music and fireworks, especially at night when there's no scenery to admire. If the ships hadn't held the fireworks, some guests might have complained.

"Nobody wanted this to happen. The companies have apologized and expressed their condolences by committing to corrective action," the tourist added.

On 20/7, Ambassador Cruise and Sea Octopus issued apologies on their Facebook pages for the fireworks and entertainment following the Ha Long Bay boat capsizing.

Ambassador Cruise stated that the fireworks and entertainment were scheduled beforehand. The company admitted its lack of sensitivity, acknowledging the distress caused to the victims' families and the public. A representative said they had reviewed their operating procedures and pledged to implement comprehensive corrective measures. They also offered condolences and sought the public's forgiveness, committing to "concrete measures" to rectify the situation and take responsibility.

Sea Octopus also acknowledged the fireworks display as a "serious and unacceptable mistake" stemming from a failure to update information and assess the situation, leaving the crew unaware of the incident. The company committed to reviewing and tightening its internal operating procedures and emergency communication protocols, while also pledging to "support" the families of the victims during this difficult time.

Tran Hai Long, a Quang Ninh resident, suggested that while the companies' actions weren't legally wrong, their staff and management had made an oversight. "They've acknowledged their actions and apologized. People shouldn't be one-sided and overly critical," he said.

A representative from another Ha Long Bay cruise company explained that fireworks are a regular feature on some evening cruises, typically launched around 9 PM as the ships return to port. After the boat capsizing, most ships and entertainment programs on the bay were suspended to focus on the rescue efforts. According to the representative, since the previous afternoon, the company had reinforced its mooring equipment, prepared for the storm, and awaited instructions from bay management.

"Yesterday, we didn't hold any entertainment activities and proactively contacted guests to advise them on itinerary changes and provide timely support," the cruise representative said.

Bich Phuong