Subjectivity on the river, danger is always lurking
At the Bac Ha hydropower reservoir (Bao Nhai commune), there are currently more than 100 people's boats operating regularly. Although they have been propagated, reminded, and even given free life jackets, many people still "forget" to bring them when getting off their boats.
During a patrol in mid-March, when reminded by functional forces for not wearing life jackets, Mr. Giang Seo Su explained: "My family has been given life jackets, but today we went fishing and didn't bring them.
The story of "forgetting" life jackets is not isolated. Through investigation, subjective psychology is still the main cause. Many people think that small boats, going near the shore or knowing how to swim, do not need life jackets; some others are afraid of being entangled and hot when traveling on the river.
The situation of waterway traffic participants not wearing life jackets also occurred at Thac Ba Lake, where a collision occurred between a passenger ship and a stone-carrying ship, killing 6 people on February 21, 2026. Ms. Nguyen Thi Chi (Yen Binh commune) explained that although she has been propagated many times, due to subjectivity, when fishing, she often does not bring life jackets and life-saving equipment.
Major Hoang Quoc Toan - Deputy Head of Riverine Traffic Police Team No. 1 (Traffic Police Department - Lao Cai Provincial Police) - said that functional forces maintain regular patrols, especially in the rainy and flood season; and at the same time organize propaganda, sign commitments with households, and distribute life jackets and life buoys.
The establishment of Zalo groups connecting with people is also being implemented, helping to promptly warn not to depart when the weather is bad, thick fog or floods, thereby minimizing risks on rivers and waters.
Tighten management, strictly handle, no exceptions
According to statistics, Lao Cai province currently has dozens of inland waterway ports on the Red River and Chay River routes, with large operating scale and diverse vehicles. However, safety assurance conditions are not uniform, especially for small-scale domestic vehicles.
From the beginning of 2026 to now, dozens of cases have been handled, and many vehicles have been temporarily seized.
In particular, through inspection in the Bao Nhai and Bac Ha lake areas, functional agencies have requested to stop the operation of 14 tourist vehicles that have expired registration until they complete all conditions according to regulations.
Lieutenant Colonel Le Toan Thang - Deputy Head of the Traffic Police Department, Lao Cai Provincial Police - emphasized: "We will continue to strengthen inspection and strictly handle violations, especially vehicles without registration, without inspection, resolutely without forbidden zones, without exceptions.
According to the assessment of the Traffic Police Department, about 80% of waterway vehicles in the area are small boats serving livelihoods. This is also the most difficult group to manage due to dispersed and spontaneous operations.
Through actual records, many ship owners and vehicle operators have made positive changes in complying with regulations on waterway traffic safety. Mr. Chu Kim Cuong - passenger ship driver of Yen Bai Inland Waterway Transport Joint Stock Company - said that the unit always requires passengers to wear life jackets fully before the ship leaves the wharf. If passengers do not comply, the ship will refuse to serve to ensure safety.
