The Department of Construction has just proposed to the Hanoi People's Committee to allow the pilot operation of registered and fully inspected electric boats, with drivers with practicing certificates, to serve tourists right during the Huong Pagoda Festival in 2026.
Previously, in Notice No. 851/TB-VP dated December 26, 2025, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen assigned the Department of Construction to preside over and coordinate with the Department of Tourism, City Police, Department of Home Affairs, People's Committees of localities and relevant units to review the current status, needs and operating conditions of tourist cyclos, boats serving Huong Pagoda tourism and three-wheeled vehicles for wounded soldiers.
For vehicles serving Huong Pagoda tourism, the Hanoi Department of Construction has worked with Huong Son Commune People's Committee, Huong Pagoda Tourism Service Cooperative and TMT Automobile Joint Stock Company. The parties agreed to study and produce about 20 electric vehicles with load capacity and operating speed equivalent to traditional ferries; and consider the possibility of piloting higher operating speeds but not affecting other vehicles as well as landscape and environment. Along with that is to study and install electric charging stations and appropriate charging methods.
According to a report by TMT Automobile Joint Stock Company, the prices of electric boats supplied by foreign partners (excluding transportation costs and taxes) include: 12-seater boats about 950 million VND; 15-seater boats about 1.03 billion VND; 30-seater boats about 1.514 billion VND.
On that basis, TMT Automobile Joint Stock Company proposed a plan to renovate manual ferries by installing electric motors. However, many important contents have not been agreed upon, such as standards and technical regulations applied; requirements for drivers; regulations on maximum speed and speed limit sign systems; safety standards, environmental protection and fire and explosion prevention.
After that, Huong Pagoda Tourism Service Cooperative signed a contract with Cuong Quy Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. to build 20 new electric boats, expected to hand over 6 boats in the period from now until March 24, 2026. Based on the implementation results, the Hanoi Department of Construction continues to propose to the Hanoi People's Committee to allow bringing electric boats that meet legal and technical conditions to pilot serve tourists at the Huong Pagoda Festival in 2026.
