Halong Bay, Vietnam
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
A tragic boat accident happened yesterday at Halong Bay only a few days after our visit. Twelve died when a boat sunk – one very similar to the one we slept in at Halong.
Standards will have to change as Vietnam upgrades tourism infrastructure to meet what should be a growing demand to see a great country.
Joe Duck 
Lack of inspections and lack of live preservers or lack of trained personnel is not infrastructure its cultural.
Preliminary news reports:
A valve that allows water to enter the boat to cool the engine was left open while the vessel was anchored for the night and the engine was off, preventing a pump from running.
Tragic incident.
That said, I doubt that the Vietnamese govt., still nominally socialist, completely approves of the tourism business. Back in the day, as it goes, the comrades–including HO Chi Minh– considered tourism a form of capitalist exploitation. It brings in some shekels to some, but…dicey–sort of like casino-economics as a whole. Take care, Duck.