Local authorities in Hue has tightened management on waterways safety to prevent possible accidents and improve the quality of folk singing shows on boats.

A folk singing performance on the Huong River in Hue City

The authorities will inspect business licences, the quality of the vessels, permits as well as the captain's licence before letting boats leave the docks, especially from Thien Mu, Le Loi and Toa Kham docks. There are currently 128 boats on the Huong River that provide folk singing performances. In the coming time, those boats will be required to experience full maintenance every three years.

In an attempt to improve the quality of folk singing performances on boats, the local authorities regulated that each programme must be at least one hour long, has at least three traditional instruments, seven to eight actors or musicians.

Until now, 457 musicians in Hue City have been granted performance licences that are valid for three years. The local authorities ban boat owners from fighting for tourists, overloading their boats or illegally selling music albums on boats in order to make the folk singing service more professional.

Statistics show that over 10,000 shows of Hue singing are held every year to serve 250,000 audiences on Huong River or at local attractions.