With numerous distinctive natural landscapes and an increasingly synchronized, modern transport infrastructure, Quang Ninh is becoming an attractive destination for large numbers of domestic and international visitors, especially during the peak summer travel season. In response to the rising demand for travel and sightseeing, the authorities in the area have been implementing a range of coordinated measures to ensure security and safety, contributing to the development of a civilized and friendly tourism environment.
At Mũi Ngọc wharf (Móng Cái 1 Ward), which connects with Vạn Gia wharf (Vĩnh Thực Commune), 11 high-speed boats are currently licensed to transport passengers. On average, the wharf serves nearly 300 passenger trips each day between the mainland and the island commune of Vĩnh Thực. During the Hung Kings Commemoration holiday, 30/4 and 1/5, the number of passengers passing through the wharf is forecast to double and will continue to rise sharply during the upcoming summer travel season.
As these are river-crossing wharves, in addition to passenger transport vessels, hundreds of civilian vessels, cargo ships and fishing boats also operate at Mũi Ngọc and Vạn Gia wharves, posing potential risks to inland waterway traffic safety. To minimize risks, besides regularly inspecting the technical safety conditions of vessels and the professional certificates of crew members and operators, the Waterway Police Team of the Traffic Police Division (Provincial Police) has coordinated with Móng Cái 1 Ward Police and Vĩnh Thực Commune Police to step up communications and require business owners and vessel owners to sign commitments to strictly comply with safety regulations. Particular emphasis has been placed on the mandatory wearing of life jackets when traveling on inland waterways and the absolute prohibition on alcohol, beer and stimulants for vessel operators.
Major Đỗ Xuân Việt, an officer of the Waterway Police Team, Traffic Police Division (Provincial Police), said: As this is a border and coastal island area, most residents earn their living from the sea, so waterway traffic is closely linked to daily life, production and economic development. Although most residents and visitors have complied well with inland waterway traffic safety regulations, some people, especially local residents, still tend to be complacent and take the wearing of life jackets lightly. To strengthen traffic order and safety, the unit has been closely coordinating with police in the island communes to intensify communications on traffic safety laws; at the same time, it has coordinated with port authorities and border guards to step up patrols and inspections and closely monitor developments in the area. As a result, violations such as vessels with expired registration certificates, carrying more passengers than permitted, failing to provide life jackets or require passengers to wear them, and others have been promptly detected and strictly handled; operations have been resolutely suspended for vessels that fail to meet safety conditions.
With the viewpoint that human security must be ensured alongside the maintenance of social order and safety, traffic safety, food safety, fire and explosion prevention, disaster and disease prevention, and the development of a green, clean and safe living environment, the Traffic Police force has not only tightened management on waterways but also strengthened measures to ensure road traffic order and safety. Accordingly, the unit has proactively coordinated with professional forces and commune-level police to maintain and effectively deploy QN-14 working teams, focusing on key routes and areas with complex traffic order and safety conditions. Through patrols and inspections, the forces have promptly detected, combated and strictly handled violations that are direct causes of traffic accidents, such as operating vehicles with alcohol levels exceeding regulations, using narcotics, exceeding the prescribed speed, as well as gatherings of teenagers that disrupt traffic order and safety.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyễn Bá Kiên, Head of Road Traffic Police Team No. 2, Traffic Police Division (Provincial Police), said: The unit's area of responsibility includes communes and wards in the former Hạ Long City, former Cẩm Phả City, Vân Đồn Special Administrative Zone and Cô Tô Special Administrative Zone – the province's key coastal and island tourism centers. As the summer travel season begins, the volume of people and vehicles on the roads is forecast to increase sharply, especially during holidays and weekends. Based on its close understanding of local conditions, the unit proactively advised the Party Committee and leaders of the Traffic Police Division to develop plans to ensure traffic order and safety for residents and visitors during the peak summer travel season, initially for the Hung Kings Commemoration holiday and the 30/4 and 1/5 holiday period. Accordingly, maximum forces have been mobilized, with officers and soldiers demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility under the motto “through the night, through the holidays” to keep traffic flowing smoothly and safely.
The unit has also arranged numerous working teams to organize traffic channeling early and from a distance; intensified patrols and inspections; reminded vehicles to stop and park in accordance with regulations; and stood ready to support and assist residents and visitors when necessary. At the same time, it has resolutely and strictly handled violations of traffic laws that pose risks of accidents and congestion. In parallel, the unit has closely coordinated with professional forces and police in communes, wards and special administrative zones to effectively prevent and combat various crimes and legal violations on traffic routes, with the aim of ensuring security and safety and best serving the travel, sightseeing and recreational needs of residents and visitors during the peak tourism season.
