Ao Tien High-class Port: Effective exploitation after investment

After 3 months of operation, on average, Ao Tien High-class Port (Van Don District) welcomes nearly 2,000 visitors to the islands every day. The port has become an important traffic gateway promoting the development of sea tourism and creating favorable travel conditions for people and tourists.

With the goal of synchronously developing connecting traffic infrastructure; improving the quality of tourism services; building Van Don into a multi-sector, multi-field economic zone, high-class sea and island tourism..., Quang Ninh has invested in Ao Tien high-class port with a scale of nearly 30 hectares. This is a port complex integrating many utilities, designed according to the theme of green space, which can simultaneously receive 150 anchored cruise ships, the size of the operating ship is up to 300 seats; the passenger terminal area is synchronously equipped with the form of a destination, many utilities.

The port was inaugurated and put into operation on March 1, 2023 after nearly 1 year of investment and construction with 64 vehicles on 6 routes, operating to take passengers to the islands of Van Don and Co To districts. With the advantage of new, synchronous investment, integrating many utilities, the infrastructure at the port has received the approval and high appreciation from the people, ship owners and tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Han (a tourist from Hanoi) said: After 3 years of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, we had the opportunity to return to Co To tourism. It was very impressive to welcome the ship at the high-class Ao Tien Port. Compared to the scene of waiting and jostling before, we experienced a new, extremely classy port infrastructure. Not only beautiful in terms of landscape, traffic, organization and reception of guests are also very thoughtful. At the port, we enjoyed the cool space while waiting for the ship, visited shopping, enjoyed coffee, took pictures, and watched the blue water of Bai Tu Long Bay from the waiting room. I am very satisfied. Quang Ninh's promotion of infrastructure development is very appropriate, this is an important driving force to promote green economic development, becoming an international tourism center.

To bring the most convenience and comfort to visitors, along with the beautiful and comfortable interior, the arrangement of many landscape areas, professional and synchronous working areas, interconnected and comprehensive connections... the attitude and service of the port staff from reception, consultation, introduction, ticket sales, organization of anchoring and welcoming guests, traffic lane division are also implemented methodically and scientifically. The investor has equipped additional signboards, electronic information guides, rescue equipment systems, fire prevention and fighting according to standards.

The working areas of the authorities, such as Border Guard, Police, Inland Waterway Port Authority, Port Management Board... are also arranged and operated right in the passenger terminal area. This has created favorable conditions, supporting passengers to solve their work effectively, quickly and soonest.

Passengers through the port to the island routes.

Mr. Le Minh Manh, Port Manager of Ao Tien High-class Port, said: After 3 months of operation, the work of security and order, traffic safety, fire safety are all ensured to be implemented well in accordance with regulations. In order for the pick-up and drop-off of passengers to take place smoothly and safely, especially during peak days, the port has arranged specific locations for each vehicle, and arranged passengers according to the time on the ticket. At each journey, the inspection and supervision work of the functional forces is implemented effectively and strictly, not allowing the situation of exceeding the prescribed number of people, resolutely refusing unsafe vehicles and vehicles lacking equipment to pick up passengers. Therefore, although it has just been put into operation, the port has soon promoted its role as a new destination for Van Don tourism, becoming a modern gateway to Bai Tu Long Bay and island tourism activities.

According to statistics from the port operator, since the beginning of April when the summer tourist season began, the port has welcomed over 100,000 passengers through the port, with an average of nearly 2,000 passengers going to the islands every day, with the number of passengers increasing nearly threefold on weekends. During the peak of the April 30 holiday, over 8,000 passengers passed through the port every day, with a total of 11,000 passengers passing through the port to the islands on April 29 alone.

It is known that, in order to show gratitude to the people, the Port will exempt port fees for 1 year in the first phase of operation for the people of 5 island communes in Van Don district and Co To district. For fees, anchorage fees, berth fees for ships operating at the port... will end free of charge and be discounted in early June 2023, adjusting the collection level to the current price of Cai Rong Port.

Although it has just been put into operation, Ao Tien High-class Port has quickly affirmed its effectiveness after investment. Not only is it in line with the breakthrough policy in mobilizing social resources to complete tourism infrastructure in particular and infrastructure in general of the province, but it also contributes to making Van Don a locality with the most diverse, synchronous and modern infrastructure and transportation methods in the province with an airport, highway and modern passenger port. From there, it creates a new attraction in attracting investment to the area, promoting the socio-economic development of the eastern region of the province.

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