Quang Ninh Province authorities have lifted the ban on kayaking after the decision by Ha Long City faced huge opposition from travel firms.

The Ha Long City People's Committee asked the city authorities to co-operate with departments and agencies to develop a business and management plan for sporting and other services in Ha Long Bay. 

They need to determine which areas are safe for tourists and issue requirements on personnel and technical problems so that firms can build their plans around it.  

On March 29, the authorities of Ha Long City announced that kayak service on Ha Long Bay would be halted from April 1. 

According to the Ha Long City People's Committee, the number of unlicensed kayak tours operated by overnight vessels in Ha Long Bay have sharply increased. 

They also claimed that tours were charging too much and the crew were off on the kayak tours, raising safety concerns over the vessels.

In addition, there are a total of 1,400 kayaks operating in the bay and 1,000 kayaks are carried on tour boats.

However, the decision faced opposition from many firms. 

They complained that the decision was too sudden and the authorities were too hasty to equate firms that have met licenses and technical requirements with unlicensed firms.

Many tourists also expressed disappointment as a large number of tourists chose to go to Ha Long Bay for the kayaking.

Dtinews