Amadive Travel Service Company has recently proposed a plan to sink the Sheng Li ship, creating a premium scuba diving site in the Con Dao area (Ho Chi Minh City). The proposal has been sent to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the Department of Agriculture and Environment, and relevant units.
Adding a Unique Scuba Diving Attraction
According to Amadive’s proposal, the company suggests sinking the Sheng Li ship to develop a premium and unique scuba diving site in the Con Dao marine area. This initiative aims to attract domestic and international tourists, promote eco-tourism, and offer natural experiences in Con Dao.
Specifically, the shipwreck diving site will be a distinct tourist product, appealing to a premium customer segment, thereby creating more room for growth and generating better job opportunities for locals. The sunken ship will become an artificial coral reef, providing shelter and breeding grounds for various marine species, thus enhancing biodiversity.
Creating an appealing diving site can help reduce pressure on natural coral reefs, allowing them to recover and grow more sustainably. “Amadive is committed to executing this project following proper procedures and legal regulations, ensuring maritime safety, environmental protection, and marine landscape preservation. We have thoroughly studied the technical and economic aspects of the project and believe in its feasibility and long-term benefits for Con Dao and Vietnam’s tourism industry,” said Mr. Ngo Tuan Tu, the company’s director.
 The abandoned Sheng Li refrigerated cargo ship has been drifting in the Con Dao sea for about two years. Photo: LAM GIANG |
The company also hopes that the managing authorities will consider approving the proposal and guide them through the necessary legal procedures, facilitating its implementation and contributing to the sustainable development of Con Dao’s marine tourism.
From the management’s perspective, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, in its latest document sent to the Department of Agriculture and Environment, basically agreed to the proposal to sink the Sheng Li ship to create a premium and unique diving site in the Con Dao marine area. However, the Department of Tourism requested the Department of Agriculture and Environment to survey, inspect, update, evaluate, and forecast the sinking site regarding the planned water area and the potential impact of the ship sinking on tourism in the future. A monitoring plan is necessary to update the sea water quality regularly, ensuring no pollution reaches the surrounding areas and affecting the bathing beaches serving tourism in the Con Dao Special Zone.
Concerns About Feasibility
In an interview with NLD reporters, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, expressed his support for the proposal, stating that if implemented, the project could create a unique model for developing new tourism products. “The model of sinking a ship to create a scuba diving attraction and attract domestic and international tourists has been implemented in some parts of the world but is new to Vietnam. If we can develop a sustainable tourism product, it’s worth considering,” said Mr. Hien Hoa.
According to our research, the shipwreck diving tourism model is not new, as many places worldwide have implemented it, associating the sunken ships with legendary stories and historical value. Tourism expert Nguyen Minh Man believes that the proposal to sink a ship and create a new tourism product is a good idea. However, feasibility studies and assessments are necessary before operation. “Vietnamese tourism has only exploited terrestrial resources and historical, cultural, and architectural heritage on land and at beaches, while river and underwater resources have not been adequately invested in. Therefore, all ideas are necessary to create new and impressive products, but we must ensure the safety of tourists,” said Mr. Man.
According to him, Vietnam has many advantages that need to be exploited through capable investors with expertise in training and developing professional scuba diving tourism, with a profound understanding of the marine environment. Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa) is a prominent destination for scuba diving development, followed by places like Phu Quoc and now Con Dao. “If properly exploited, ensuring safety for tourists and environmental conservation, this will be a product that attracts domestic and foreign tourists who love scuba diving. However, scuba diving tourism is a conditional experience, and it’s not just about sinking a ship into the sea for tourism purposes. Practical assessments of environmental impacts are crucial, and among them, the flow factor is essential for tourist safety,” said Mr. Nguyen Minh Man.
From another perspective, Mr. Tran Tuong Huy, Vice President of the Institute of Social Tourism Research, suggested that the idea of sinking the Sheng Li ship to create a diving attraction sounds appealing from a marketing and experience standpoint. However, its feasibility needs consideration. Con Dao has a natural ecosystem that requires preservation.
According to Mr. Huy, it is necessary to define the Con Dao tourism brand to unify its service products. “Legally, intentionally sinking a ship (even if it has no economic value) requires permits from the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and the local government. It must be proven that the sinking will not cause pollution (by removing oil, chemicals, and hazardous materials beforehand). The sinking location should be outside the main shipping lane, not affecting fishermen, ship routes, and marked on nautical charts,” analyzed Mr. Tran Tuong Huy.
Proposal to Sink Sheng Li Ship to Create a Unique Tourism Product in Con Dao
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The Sheng Li refrigerated cargo ship, 52 meters long, 8.5 meters wide, with a cargo capacity of 1,200 tons, was built in 2002 in Togo. It has been drifting in the Con Dao sea for about two years. Local fishermen discovered the ship adrift, with the words “Sheng Li” on its hull, after which the authorities towed it to a storm shelter. Once a “strange object” in the open sea, the ship quickly became a popular check-in spot on social media. After a long period of idleness without any claim of ownership, the ship has deteriorated severely, with its hull rusted and many compartments and machinery beyond repair. On May 9, 2025, the People’s Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau (the old name) issued a decision to auction the ship for scrap, with a starting price of VND 1.7 billion, excluding taxes and other costs. The auction winner was only allowed to dismantle the ship and not use it for any other purpose. |
THAI PHUONG
– 04:00 13/08/2025
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