Three red sailboats, each over 10 m long, have appeared in the coastal road area from Bai Tho Bridge to behind the Quang Ninh Museum since 1/2, drawing significant attention from residents and tourists.

According to a representative from the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, this initiative is part of a plan to introduce traditional sailboats for tourism. This product has been prepared by the locality for many years, aiming to enhance the cultural experience for visitors to Ha Long Bay.

After Tet Nguyen Dan, a total of 10 boats will become operational. These vessels were crafted by a renowned provincial artisan, with designs based on the original ancient boats from the Quang Yen region, traditionally known by locals as "ba vat" or "ba vach" boats.

Red sailboats in Ha Long Bay. *Photo: Azure*

According to the Quang Ninh Provincial Portal, the "ba vach" boat was a distinctive fishing and transport vessel, deeply linked to the history of residents in the former Ha Nam island area, Quang Yen town. Its name comes from a unique boat-building technique where the hull is assembled from three large wooden planks ("ba vach") on each side, creating a robust structure that ensures high balance and stability against waves.

The most recognizable feature of these boats is their bat-wing shaped sails, traditionally dyed a deep brown using a natural brown dye derived from nipa palm root to increase durability, allowing the boats to harness wind power for agile movement across the sea.

A representative from the Department of Tourism stated that while these boats mimic traditional prototypes, some details have been modified to suit tourism, ensuring they differ from the fishing or transport boats of the past.

Notably, instead of using traditional brown sails—which could easily blend into the color of the limestone cliffs—the design team opted for a deep red color to make the vessels more prominent and aesthetically pleasing against the bay's landscape.

Once operational, the boats will not venture into the core area of the bay. They will primarily serve visitors on short, coastal tours lasting about 40 minutes. The main purpose is to provide a space for tourists to take photos, admire the scenery, and experience a part of the local traditional fishing village culture.

Although not yet officially launched, the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism representative said the product has already received high interest and praise from travel companies, promising to attract European and young tourists.

Over many years, the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee has consistently encouraged the phasing out of wooden tourist boats in Ha Long Bay, replacing them with steel-hulled vessels or those made from equivalent materials. It is anticipated that by 2030, no wooden boats will operate in Ha Long Bay.

According to many boat owners, while wooden boats were once an icon of Ha Long Bay, their safety was not guaranteed and posed risks. Most business operators recognize that wooden boats are no longer suitable for tourism but have not been able to replace them all due to cost issues. By 2030, under the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee's draft plan, 100% of tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay will be steel-hulled or made from equivalent materials.

Tu Nguyen