Boasting numerous distinctive natural landscapes along with an increasingly synchronized and modern transport infrastructure system, Quang Ninh is becoming an attractive destination for numerous domestic and international tourists, especially during the peak summer tourism season. Facing the rising demand for travel and sightseeing, competent authorities across the province have been simultaneously implementing multiple solutions to ensure security and safety, contributing to building a civilized and hospitable tourism environment.
At Mui Ngoc wharf (Mong Cai 1 Ward), on the route connecting to Van Gia wharf (Vinh Thuc Commune), there are currently 11 high-speed boats licensed for passenger transport. On average, the wharf serves nearly 300 passenger trips each day traveling between the mainland and the island commune of Vinh Thuc. It is forecasted that during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, April 30, and May 1 holidays, passenger traffic through the wharf may double and will continue to surge sharply during the upcoming summer tourism season.
As these are cross-waterway passenger wharves, in addition to passenger transport vessels, Mui Ngoc and Van Gia wharves also see hundreds of local residents' boats, cargo vessels, and fishing boats operating concurrently, posing potential waterway traffic safety risks. To minimize risks, beyond regularly inspecting the technical safety conditions of vessels as well as the professional certificates of crew members and vessel operators, the Waterway Police Team under the Traffic Police Division (Provincial Police) has coordinated with Mong Cai 1 Ward Police and Vinh Thuc Commune Police to step up awareness campaigns and require business owners and vessel operators to sign commitments to strictly abide by safety regulations. Among these, special emphasis is placed on mandatory wearing of life jackets when traveling on waterways and an absolute ban on the consumption of alcohol, beer, or stimulants for vessel operators.
Major Do Xuan Viet, an officer of the Waterway Police Team, Traffic Police Division (Provincial Police), stated: "Due to the unique characteristics of a border and island area, where most residents earn their living from maritime livelihoods, waterway traffic activities are closely linked to daily life, production, and economic development. Although the majority of local residents and tourists have complied well with inland waterway traffic safety regulations, a segment of people, especially locals, still harbor a subjective attitude and neglect wearing life jackets. In order to strengthen traffic order and safety, the unit has been closely coordinating with the police of island communes to step up dissemination of traffic safety laws; at the same time, coordinating with port authority forces and border guards to enhance patrols and inspections, and firmly grasp the situation in the area. Thereby, promptly detecting and strictly handling violations such as expired vessel inspections, carrying more passengers than permitted, failing to provide or failing to require passengers to wear life jackets...; resolutely suspending operations of vessels that do not ensure safety conditions."
Thoroughly grasping the perspective of ensuring human security associated with maintaining social order and safety, traffic safety, food safety, fire and explosion prevention, natural disaster and disease control, and building a green - clean - safe living environment, the traffic police force has not only tightened management on waterway routes 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 task forces, concentrating on key routes and complex areas regarding traffic order and safety. Through patrol and inspection efforts, the forces have promptly detected, combated, and strictly handled violations that are direct causes of traffic accidents, such as operating vehicles under the influence of alcohol or drugs, exceeding speed limits, as well as youths gathering and disrupting traffic order and safety.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ba Kien, Head of Road Traffic Police Team No. 2, Traffic Police Division (Provincial Police), stated: The area under the unit's responsibility covers communes and wards in the (former) Ha Long City, (former) Cam Pha City, Van Don special zone, and Co To special zone – key marine and island tourism hubs of the province. Entering the summer tourism season, the volume of people and vehicles on traffic routes is forecast to increase sharply, especially during holidays and weekends. Based on a firm grasp of the local situation, the unit proactively advised the Party Committee and the leadership of the Traffic Police Division on formulating plans to ensure traffic order and safety, serving the public and tourists during the peak summer tourism season, with the immediate focus on the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day and the April 30 - May 1 holiday. Accordingly, forces are mobilized to the maximum, and officers and soldiers uphold a high sense of responsibility under the motto of working "throughout the night, throughout the holidays" to ensure smooth and safe traffic.
The unit has also deployed multiple working teams to direct traffic flow early and from afar; stepped up patrols, inspections, and reminders for vehicles to stop and park in accordance with regulations; and remained ready to assist and support residents and tourists when needed. At the same time, it strictly and resolutely handles traffic law violations that pose potential risks of accidents and congestion. In parallel, the unit closely coordinates with professional forces and the police of communes, wards, and special zones in effectively preventing and combating crimes and legal violations along traffic routes, aiming to ensure security and safety, and best serve the travel, sightseeing, and recreational needs of the public and tourists during the peak tourism season.
