Illegal jet skis return despite ban at beach in Vietnam

According to local residents and visitors, the problem resurfaces every summer tourism season, from April to September, when jet skis become a common sight along the beaches of Sam Son Ward in Thanh Hoa.

Carrying two or three passengers each, the jet skis race at high speed between the shoreline and offshore waters, often passing through areas where tourists are swimming.

A ride for two costs around VND300,000-350,000 (US$11.40-13.30).

The jet skis have no fixed launching point, instead cruising along the shoreline to solicit customers.

A tourist from Hanoi said the operators' reckless driving and persistent touting for passengers were both disruptive and dangerous, especially for children swimming near the shore.

Sam Son Ward police said 16 jet skis had previously operated tourism services in the area.

However, after authorities determined that the beach lacked a designated operating zone and that the activity posed safety risks, the local administration ordered operators to suspend services in 2024.

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Trong Binh, deputy chief of Sam Son Ward police, said officers have repeatedly warned owners not to operate jet skis without authorization.

Despite the ban, some owners have recently returned the jet skis to the beach.

In a recent crackdown, Sam Son Ward police, together with traffic police and border guard forces, seized 21 illegally operated jet skis, most of them owned by residents of Sam Son and neighboring areas.