In Halong, call 115 for an ambulance, 114 for fire and rescue, 113 for police, or 112 for Vietnam’s national emergency hotline. If you are aboard the cruise ship, use the ship’s emergency procedure and alert the crew or medical team immediately.
- 115 — ambulance and medical emergency.
- 114 — fire and rescue.
- 113 — police and urgent public-security help.
- 112 — national emergency hotline for urgent incidents, accidents, disasters and rescue requests.
Vietnam’s 112 system began nationwide operation in August 2025. It receives calls around the clock and can transfer matters within the responsibilities of 113, 114 or 115. Calls to 112 are free from fixed and mobile subscriptions.
Halong Shore Excursion recommends saving all four numbers with the ship’s own emergency contact and local port-agent details before going ashore.
Which number should a cruise passenger use?
Use 115 for a serious illness or injury requiring medical response. Use 114 for fire, entrapment or rescue. Use 113 for an immediate police emergency. Use 112 when several services may be needed, the incident involves a disaster or rescue, or you are unsure which emergency service should coordinate the response.
Do not delay an urgent call while comparing numbers. Follow the operator’s questions and instructions.
If you are on the cruise ship
Alert crew using the emergency number, cabin phone instruction or alarm procedure provided onboard. The ship’s medical and security teams need the exact deck, cabin or public area.
Calling a shore number without telling the ship can delay access through the vessel’s controlled area. Keep a companion available to guide crew to the passenger.
If you are inside Halong International Cruise Port
Tell responders:
- Cảng tàu khách quốc tế Hạ Long;
- your ship name;
- whether you are at the berth, Main Lobby, public entrance, flagpole or another named point;
- the nearest sign, counter or staff position;
- a working callback number.
Alert port staff at the same time. They can explain the controlled access route and guide responders to the right part of the facility.
If you are in a vehicle, attraction or restaurant
Give the venue name, street address, nearest landmark and whether the passenger is inside or outside. If on a road, ask the driver or guide for the road name, direction of travel and nearest junction.
A map pin can help a local companion, but speak or display an identifiable place as well. Keep the phone used for the call available for a callback.
If you are on a Halong Bay local boat
Alert the captain or boat crew immediately. They can identify the vessel, actual position, route and practical landing point. The ocean cruise ship’s berth is not your location once the excursion boat is on the bay.
One companion can contact the ocean ship, port agent and Halong Shore Excursion after the boat crew has started the emergency response. Do not crowd the captain or block safety equipment.
Prepare for a Vietnamese-speaking call
Emergency operators may answer in Vietnamese. Ask a guide, driver, port employee, venue worker or nearby local person to help while you remain available to answer questions.
Useful phrases:
- “Làm ơn gọi cấp cứu 115 giúp tôi.” — Please call an ambulance on 115 for me.
- “Làm ơn gọi cứu hỏa 114 giúp tôi.” — Please call fire and rescue on 114 for me.
- “Làm ơn gọi công an 113 giúp tôi.” — Please call the police on 113 for me.
- “Địa chỉ ở đây là gì?” — What is the address here?
Use the phone’s ordinary dialler. Messaging apps do not place a call to these three-digit emergency numbers. If your phone cannot connect, ask someone nearby to call from a working local phone.
Give the most useful facts first
Use this order:
- exact location;
- what happened;
- number of people affected;
- immediate danger such as fire, traffic or water;
- callback number and language needs.
A simple script is: “We need [ambulance / fire and rescue / police] at [exact location]. [What happened]. [Number] people need help. Please call back on [number].”
Answer questions rather than guessing. Follow the dispatcher or trained responder’s instructions.
Use one caller and one coordinator
One person should stay on the emergency call. A second companion can alert the ship, port agent, guide and travel insurer without interrupting urgent instructions.
If the passenger is taken to a medical facility, record the facility name, transport service, accompanying person and callback number. Tell the ship who has the passenger’s ship card, identification, medicine and belongings.
When not to use an emergency number
A routine lost item, fare disagreement, missed pickup or request for tourism information is not an emergency unless there is immediate danger or a crime in progress. Start with the venue, guide, driver, operator or ship contact.
Use the lost-phone and wallet guide for account protection and recovery, and the missing-guide steps for a pickup problem.
Save an offline emergency card
- 112, 113, 114 and 115.
- Ship emergency contact and local port agent.
- Ship name, cabin and all-aboard time.
- Halong Shore Excursion contact and booking reference.
- Travel insurer’s assistance number and policy reference.
- Essential medical information and medicine list.
- A companion’s working phone number.
The Halong hospital guide is useful for planning. During an emergency, let the responding service or ship medical team advise the appropriate facility.
Halong Shore Excursion can add the ship, arrival date, meeting point and return contacts to the excursion plan. Emergency numbers help only when the passenger can also state the real location and keep the ship informed.