A familiar scene, long absent from Ha Long, has suddenly reappeared.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - In recent days, the sight of bright red sailboats appearing on the water in Ha Long Bay has particularly attracted the attention of tourists. For the local people, this is a familiar image in their memories.

Ms. Dinh Thi Thao, a resident of Hong Ha ward, Ha Long city ( Quang Ninh province), was surprised to see a bright red sailboat with its sails billowing in the wind appear in Ha Long Bay. In the memory of the 40-year-old woman, this three-walled sailboat was a familiar sight from her childhood.

"For decades, I haven't seen boats like these operating in the bay. Recently, seeing them reappear brought back so many childhood memories," Thao shared.

An image of an old-style boat with red sails appears on Ha Long Bay (Photo: Nam Hoang).

According to our investigation, three red sailboats, each over 10 meters long, have been seen in the coastal road area from Bai Tho Bridge to behind the Quang Ninh Museum since the beginning of February.

These three-walled sailboats were once a familiar mode of transport for fishermen in the ancient fishing villages of Ha Long Bay, but they had been absent for decades. Their reappearance has surprised many and attracted special attention from locals and tourists alike.

Speaking to a reporter from Dan Tri newspaper , a representative from the Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in the 1990s, three-walled boats were very popular in Ha Long Bay. However, this type of boat is no longer in operation in the bay today.

For many people in Quang Ninh, this is a very familiar image in their memories (Photo: Nam Hoang).

Currently, there are three sailboats of this style, built by artisans, located in Ha Long Bay. The entire design is based on the prototype of ancient boats from the Quang Yen region, with slight adjustments to suit tourism .

Previously, the three-walled boats had brown sails, but now they have been changed to red, making them stand out against the green mountain backdrop, creating a visual and aesthetic effect. Three new boats have been launched, awaiting further necessary procedures and completion after the Lunar New Year. It is expected that 10 such boats will operate in the bay.

A representative from the Department shared that the boats will operate in waters just a few dozen meters from the shore. Each boat has a maximum capacity of a few passengers, mainly for sightseeing, experiencing, taking photos, and learning about the culture.

Foreign tourists are particularly interested and excited about this activity. When they board the boat, they have the opportunity to learn more about the lives of the fishermen on the fishing boats anchored nearby.

The old three-walled boats with brown sails used to be a familiar sight to the people of Quang Ninh (Photo: Quang Nam Cruise).

When put into operation, the boats will not go deep into the core area, only taking tourists along the shore on a trip lasting about 40 minutes. This is also a new tourism product that the locality wants to promote in order to enhance the experience for domestic and international tourists.

According to a representative from the Department, the product has received significant interest and positive feedback from travel companies, promising to attract tourists interested in learning about the culture.

According to Xuan Duy, a tour guide specializing in leading foreign tourists on tours of Ha Long Bay, the image of the traditional three-walled boats, once a distinctive feature of the area, had long since disappeared. The reappearance of these traditionally built boats will create a novel experience for tourists.

"Foreign tour groups are always interested in learning about local culture and enhancing their experiences. Personally, I believe this will be a very attractive product," Duy said.

According to the Quang Ninh Provincial Electronic Information Portal, the three-walled boat is a characteristic fishing and transportation vessel, closely associated with the history of the former Quang Yen town's inhabitants.

The name originates from the boat-building technique where the hull is constructed from three large wooden planks (three bulkheads) on each side, creating a sturdy structure that gives the boat high balance and stability in rough seas.

The most distinctive feature of this type of boat is its bat-wing-shaped sails. In the past, the sails were often dyed dark brown using yam roots to increase durability, allowing the boat to utilize the wind for agile movement on the sea.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/canh-quen-thuoc-rat-lau-khong-thay-o-ha-long-bong-xuat-hien-tro-lai-20260211121140585.htm