Medical staff provide consultations and health checks for foreign tourists at the permanent medical station on Hạ Long Bay. — VNA/VNS Photo

QUẢNG NINH — The northern province of Quảng Ninh has officially deployed round-the-clock medical teams on Hạ Long Bay starting April 2 to provide immediate first aid and handle health emergencies for tourists.

The initiative is the latest effort by local authorities to enhance service quality and ensure safety at the UNESCO-recognised Hạ Long Bay, especially as newly expanded sightseeing routes attract increasing numbers of visitors.

On the first day of deployment, the Quảng Ninh Emergency Transport Centre stationed a medical team on Ti Tốp Island, one of the bay’s key tourist stops. The team is equipped with specialised equipment suitable for maritime and island conditions, including portable ventilators, patient monitoring devices, floating stretchers, and essential medicines.

The local health sector has also established coordination procedures with mainland hospitals to ensure emergency patients can be transferred as quickly as possible when necessary.

Notably, from April 1, sightseeing routes between Hạ Long Bay and Lan Hạ Bay in Hải Phòng have officially reopened, allowing tourists to travel seamlessly between the two heritage areas. The increased flow of vessels and overnight visitors has required corresponding upgrades in safety and medical response measures.

According to Đặng Tiến Dũng of the Quảng Ninh 115 Emergency Transport Centre, the unit will continue organising training courses to improve staff capacity in handling incidents typical of coastal tourism, such as drowning, heatstroke, and maritime accidents.

Meanwhile, the Hạ Long Bay – Yên Tử World Heritage Management Board has requested that all tourist boats inspect and replenish their onboard medical kits to ensure adequate first aid capability before specialised medical teams arrive.

The move is expected not only to reinforce the professionalism of Quảng Ninh’s tourism sector but also to maintain Hạ Long Bay’s reputation as one of the safest and most welcoming destinations on the global tourism map. — VNS