All kayaking activities in Halong Bay have been suspended by local authorities.
The government of the Vietnamese province of Quang Ninh, which is home to the UNESCO-listed bay, said that the restrictions had been imposed due to safety concerns. The ban took effect on 1 April 2017.
Kayaking is one of the most popular tourist activities in Halong Bay, but this has reportedly led to a rise in the number of unauthorised companies operating tours in the area. There are concerns that tourists are being endangered by poor safety regulations or overcharged by certain operators.
The local the local Quang Ninh newspaper reports that kayaking was initially omitted from the province’s conservation plan for Halong Bay for the period 2015 to 2020, and authorities have now put an end to the activity.
