The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Tuyen Quang province said on April 14 stricter measures are being implemented to regulate motorbike tour services in a more proactive manner, aiming to enhance state oversight and clarify responsibilities among relevant parties. The move is intended to ensure visitor safety while maintaining the image of Ha Giang as a safe, professional and friendly destination.

The department has rolled out inspection plans targeting travel service providers during the Lunar New Year period and the early-year tourism peak. Inspections focus on legal documentation, business conditions, tour organisation and safety measures for tourists.

Since March, authorities have also conducted specialised inspections of organisations and individuals suspected of illegally organising tours, particularly those offering motorbike experiences on mountainous routes. The inspections are being carried out in multiple phases through the end of April.

Following the review, officials have issued directives requiring stricter compliance with legal regulations, clearly defining responsibilities across five groups involved in tour operations.

Under current rules, travel companies must organise tours in line with signed contracts, develop route-specific safety plans, and assign licensed tour guides to accompany groups throughout the journey. Transport providers and motorbike rental services are only allowed to use qualified vehicles and drivers, and are prohibited from independently selling tour packages or organising itineraries without authorisation.

The provincial tourism association is tasked with strengthening communication and coordination among stakeholders. Local authorities are required to monitor motorbike rental services and pick-up points to promptly detect and handle violations.

Meanwhile, police have stepped up patrols and traffic enforcement along key routes, targeting traffic violations and tour groups that fail to meet regulatory requirements.

The move follows a serious accident in late March involving a 19-year-old British tourist, identified as O.W., who had traveled to Ha Giang after finishing high school. She was critically injured in a traffic accident and later transferred to Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi, where she was declared brain-dead on April 2.

The tourist reportedly used an “easy rider” service, in which a local driver operated the motorbike, to explore the mountainous routes of Ha Giang, now administratively part of Tuyen Quang province.

Her parents later decided to donate her organs. Doctors successfully transplanted her liver to a patient with end-stage liver failure and her two kidneys to other patients who had long depended on dialysis.

The Ha Giang Loop, a well-known route among international travelers, spans around 350 kilometers and passes through destinations such as Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van and Meo Vac. The route is famed for its dramatic mountain landscapes but also poses significant risks due to steep passes and rugged terrain.

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