Authorities in Ninh Thuan Province, south-central Vietnam are handling a complaint from a South Korean tourist whose family member and four other South Korean tourists were injured after a Uaz vehicle, a kind of off-road vehicle, carrying them overturned at the Mui Dinh sand dunes at the end of last month.

Among the injured, one woman sustained severe injuries.

The accident occurred when a driver from Mui Dinh Jeep Tour was speeding while navigating the Mui Dinh sand dunes.

The company has provided VND150 million (US$5,877) in assistance.

The South Korean tourists had booked their tour to the Mui Dinh sand dunes through Good Day Venaja Company, based in Khanh Hoa Province, which borders Ninh Thuan.

Cung Quynh Anh, deputy director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Khanh Hoa, said that the department is awaiting specific reports from the parties involved. 

He mentioned that the accident occurred in Ninh Thuan and was the responsibility of Mui Dinh Jeep Tour.

However, he also stated that Good Day Venaja Company, which organized the tour, holds partial responsibility.

Every day, hundreds of domestic and international tourists visit the Mui Dinh sand dunes. 

At the L.X. business, long lines of vehicles, mostly aging UAZ models, wait to transport tourists. These outdated vehicles pose safety risks and could negatively impact Ninh Thuan’s tourism image.

A representative of L.X. stated that travel agencies bring tourists to their location, and the company is solely responsible for transporting visitors to tour the Mui Dinh sand dunes.

"The price for each tour is VND450,000-900,000 [US$17.7-35.3], depending on the type of vehicle the tourist requests," said the L.X. representative.

Most of these vehicles lack license plates, seat belts for both drivers and passengers, and inspection stickers. While the front cabins and seats remain intact, the rear sections have been removed.

A driver named H. admitted that nearly half of the vehicles in operation are neither registered nor inspected. Some have license plates, but they are only attached when scheduled for inspection.

"These vehicles mainly operate on sand dunes and do not travel on public roads, so they are not registered or inspected. Each one costs about VND50 million [$1,960]," H. said.

D.D.Q., a tourist from Dong Nai Province in southern Vietnam, shared that he and his friends visited the Mui Dinh sand dunes in late February. However, riding in modified vehicles without inspection stickers left them feeling uneasy and concerned.

“The landscape here is stunning and untouched, but the tourist vehicles look like they’re no longer in service. Every time we went up or down a slope, I felt extremely anxious,” Q. added.

Nguyen Thi Xuan Cuong, vice-chairman of the Thuan Nam District administration in Ninh Thuan Province, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that local authorities have repeatedly issued directives urging businesses to stop using substandard vehicles for tourism.

However, the practice continues due to high demand. Additionally, many local businesses operate informally and work directly with tourism companies to transport visitors to the sand dunes, making oversight and regulation challenging.

According to Cuong, there are currently 12 household businesses with 80 vehicles operating at the Mui Dinh sand dunes.

More than half of the vehicles are registered and inspected. 

The district will continue to raise awareness, provide guidance, and require household businesses to sign commitments to comply with legal regulations when operating tourist vehicles, Cuong said.

She added that demand for visiting the Mui Dinh sand dunes is high, particularly among international tourists.

As the sand dunes are a key attraction in Thuan Nam District, local authorities plan to propose the construction of a dedicated road for tourism activities.

To ensure a safer and more organized tourism environment, the district has also directed the establishment of a cooperative for local tourism businesses, allowing them to manage and supervise each other, fostering a positive experience for visitors, Cuong noted.

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