on 22 Oct 2020
Small, repurposed marina has space on the water for 10-15 yachts to berth
A small marina has opened in Vietnam’s Halong Bay. The repurposed docking facilities offer space for 10-15 yachts to berth on the water, with room on the hardstand for another 20 to 30 yachts.
The project is an initiative of the Halong Bay Company, founded in 2020 by Michael Aumock and Anh “Andrew” Nguyen. The company offers marina consulting, berths and yacht management.
Aumock tells APB the company seeks to “provide a safe entree to pleasure boating in the spectacular Halong Bay.” He adds that the company seeks to eventually create “a full-service marina for all yachties making the journey up or down the majestic Vietnamese coast.”
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- Anh “Andrew” Nguyen
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- Michael Aumock
The scenic Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its beautiful limestone karsts. It has long been a popular destination for local and international tourists. Aumock says that since Covid, tourism in the area has been “sparse”, although tour boats and small island cruise ships are “mostly full during weekends and holidays” with Vietnamese visitors.
Before 2020, Halong Bay attracted 2.58 million tourists per year
“There are currently only a few yachts in the region,” says Aumock. “If we want to grow the industry responsibly in the region, there have to be safe, secure, accessible places to keep a yacht. At the very least, we can provide that, a short drive from Hanoi, and 30 minutes from Hai Phong International Airport.”
Views from the repurposed docking facilities
Aumock highlights that while northern Vietnam has a lower population than the south of the country, Halong Bay has the benefit to boaters of proximity to Sanya and Hong Kong. “I believe that long-term, it has the potential to develop into a strong international yachting destination,” he says.
With its upgraded facilities in place, Aumock says the Halong Bay Company will be able to offer quality refit services to yachts by the end of 2020. “Having access to shipyard facilities, slipway, cranes and personnel means that we can do a legitimate international-standard refit on almost any yacht, for a fraction of the price to do it in Europe, or even Thailand, even if we don’t have a yacht club or chandlery.”
www.halongbaycompany.com
