Cruise ship suspended in Ha Long Bay for allowing use of single-use plastic bottles

The ship violated Clause 10 in the appendix of contract No. 98/2025/VHL, signed between the management board and ship owner Bui Van Thuy.

During a routine inspection on Wednesday, officials discovered that the Thinh An 88 cruise ship allowed passengers to use disposable plastic items, including bottles, which directly contravened the bay's strict environmental regulations.

As a result, the ship will be prohibited from operating or docking at any ports or waters within Ha Long Bay from May 24 to 30.

This is not the first time the management board has enforced such measures.

Since the launch of an anti-plastic initiative in September 2019, the board has adopted a firm stance against the use of single-use plastics in tourism and service activities within the bay.

The initiative promotes the message 'No use of single-use plastic products in tourism and service activities in Ha Long Bay.'

Under this program, all tourism and service providers operating in the bay must be committed to eliminating the use of single-use plastic items such as cups, straws, food containers, bowls, plates, and plastic bags.

They are also encouraged to use eco-friendly alternatives and refuse services to passengers who fail to comply with these regulations.

Over the past six years, more than 270 businesses involved in tourism and aquaculture have pledged to eliminate single-use plastics from their operations in Ha Long Bay.

The management board views these enforcement actions as crucial in preserving the bay’s ecological integrity and maintaining its status as a world-renowned natural heritage site.

Ha Long Bay has made the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site list three times, in 1994, 2000, and 2023.