Thang Long, the biggest single-body high-speed ship in Vietnam, has been launched off the northern port city of Hai Phong before it travels south to Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province to serve sea tours next month.

A launching ceremony for the US$8.71 million express boat was held on Friday at Hai Phong-based 189 One Member Co., Ltd., a shipbuilder under the Ministry of National Defense, and Phu Quoc Fast Ferry JSC, the watercraft’s investor based in southern Kien Giang Province.

The four-storied high-speed boat, 77.46 meter long and 11 meter wide, will serve travelers on the Vung Tau City - Con Dao Island route off southern Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province in June.

Three big propellers of Thang Long super-speed ship are seen in this image. Photo: Tien Thang / Tuoi Tre

The route is the longest journey between the Vietnamese mainland and a tourism island.

As the biggest express vessel in Vietnam, Thang Long can host 1,017 travelers on its three floors and has a cafeteria on the top floor.

The boat, made of aluminum alloy imported from Italy, is powered by an 11,580 horsepower (8,635 kW) Rolls-Royce MTU engine, and can travel at a maximum speed of 30 nautical miles (some 55.5 kilometers) per hour.

With the super-speed boat, the travel time between Vung Tau, a beach city that borders Ho Chi Minh City, and Con Dao, a popular tourist island off the province, will be shortened from 210 - 240 minutes to 180 minutes.

This image shows a passenger compartment on Thang Long express boat, which will serve travelers on the Vung Tau City - Con Dao Island route in June 2022. Photo: Tien Thang / Tuoi Tre

In addition to Con Dao, Phu Quoc Fast Ferry JSC, with its high-speed craft fleet amounting to 11 vessels currently, will bring tourists from Vung Tau to other major islands, such as Phu Quoc and Nam Du off Kien Giang, and Ky Son, off central Quang Ngai Province, said Vu Van Khuong, general director of the firm.

Four years ago, 189 One Member Co., Ltd. launched a double-body high-speed craft, the largest of its kind in Vietnam by then, which can accommodate 600 passengers and travel at 35 nautical miles, or 64.8 kilometers, per hour.

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