Rules tightened for Vietnam’s Ha Giang Loop motorbike tours after British teen’s fatal accident
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Vietnam's Ha Giang Loop, a 350km circuit with some treacherous mountain roads, has surged in popularity among foreign tourists in recent years.
ST PHOTO: GABRIELLE CHAN
TUYEN QUANG, Vietnam – The authorities in the northern Vietnamese province of Tuyen Quang are moving to tighten oversight of motorbike-based tourism, following mounting safety concerns along popular routes such as the Ha Giang Loop.
The province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued a directive requiring travel agencies, transport operators and motorbike rental providers to strictly comply with safety regulations, after inspections revealed persistent risks in experiential motorbike tours.
The department did not specify the reason for the directive, but it came in the wake of an accident at Ha Giang Loop that claimed the life of 19-year-old British tourist Orla Wates on April 2.
Her death made national and international headlines after her family decided to donate her organs to critically ill patients awaiting transplants in Vietnam.
Under the directive, travel firms must adhere to agreed itineraries and ensure the safety of tourists’ lives, health and property throughout each journey.
The authorities have mandated the retention of full documentation, including travel contracts, passenger lists, insurance coverage and related records for inspection and post-tour audits.
Before departure, operators must prepare detailed plans tailored to terrain and risk levels. These plans must clearly set out routes, rest stops, accommodation, vehicles, personnel and emergency response arrangements, including rescue and technical support.
Tourists must be briefed in advance on safety regulations, compulsory protective gear, emergency contacts and basic handling skills for hazardous situations.
Transport providers and motorbike rental services must ensure that both vehicles and drivers meet road safety requirements. Motorbikes must undergo regular maintenance and be equipped with helmets and necessary safety gear.
Firms that are not licensed as travel agencies are prohibited from organising or selling tours under any form. They may not assemble tour groups, design itineraries or market travel packages independently.
All services must be delivered under formal agreements with licensed tour agents, specifying drivers, routes, stops and responsibilities in case of incidents. Unauthorised changes to itineraries or personnel are forbidden.
Communal and ward-level authorities have been tasked with strengthening oversight of tourism-related businesses. They are expected to detect and report violations, including illegal tour operations, lack of licensed guides, and missing insurance or documentation.
Cases involving safety risks or accidents must be promptly reported to provincial authorities and the police for coordinated handling.
The Ha Giang Loop, a 350km circuit with some treacherous mountain roads, has surged in popularity among foreign tourists in recent years. The route cuts across steep mountain passes and deep valleys, including Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, making it visually spectacular and technically demanding.
Tuyen Quang province has around 27,000 tourism-related workers, of which nearly 9,000 have received formal training and over 3,000 have undergone retraining. It has 331 tour guides. VIETNAM NEWS/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
