Two luxury cruise liners bring nearly 3,400 European, US tourists to Ha Long
The Ha Long International Cruise Port is welcoming two luxury cruise liners with nearly 3,400 European and US tourists aboard on November 13-14 , reported the Tourism Department of Quang Ninh province in norther Vietnam.
Malta-flagged Celebrity Solstice docks at Ha Long. (Photo: VNA)
Quang Ninh (VNA) 🐼– TheHa Long International Cruise Port is welcoming two luxury cruise liners withnearly 3,400 European and US tourists aboard on November 13-14 , reported theTourism Department of Quang Ninh province in norther Vietnam.
On November 13, the Malta-flaggedCelebrity Solstice with almost 2,700 tourists docked at the port. Afterdisembarking, they explored famous destinations such as Quang Ninh Museum, experienced local culture and cuisine through a city tour of Ha Long, and visited tourist spots. They will also tour Hanoi, HaiPhong city, and villages in Hai Phong’s Vinh Bao district. The cruise liner is scheduled todepart Ha Long Bay at 5pm on November 14, concluding its voyage through Vietnam and heading back to Hong Kong (China). It is expected to returnto Ha Long four more times by the end of this year. According to the schedule, anotherluxury international cruise liner named the Regatta will arrive at the port at 6:30am onNovember 14, bringing about 600 passengers from Europe and the US.
In the last two months of this year alone, as many as 16 big cruise linersregistered to dock at the port.
⛎ So far, the number of registered port calls for 2024 has approached 60,bringing over 70,000 passengers, mostly well-known and prestigious brands suchas Mein Schiff 5 and 6, Celebrity Solstice, Noordam, MSC Splendida, Westerdam,and others./.
As the cruise season usually starts in October and ends in April, travel agencies in the northeastern coastal province of Quang Ninh have made plans and established linkages to welcome cruise ships.
With a long coastline of 3,260km, more than 4,000 islands and a wealth of renowned landscapes, Vietnam has become an attractive destination for cruise tourism.
A Celebrity Cruises ship with more than 3,000 passengers and crew on board berthed at Chan May port, the central province of Thua Thien – Hue on November 12.
The first and only direct service connecting the two countries at the moment is set to operate three times per week using the modern wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Mu Cang Chai is home to nearly 83,000 hectares of forest, including almost 60,000 hectares of unspoiled natural woodland. Recognising this potential, local authorities have embraced a holistic strategy that protects biodiversity while promoting tourism.
Phu Quoc ranks among the top 10 leading tourist islands in Asia. As the largest island in Vietnam, it boasts stunning natural beauty, with expansive coral reefs resting beneath the sea and a number of beautiful, poetic beaches such as Sao, Truong, and Khem, known for their fine white sand and crystal-clear waters.
Vietnam's national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet are among the exhibitors, promoting key destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Phu Quoc, as well as distinctive tourism products.
Alexander Musikhin, Vice President of ATOR and CEO of the Intourist travel agency, highlighted Vietnam as a top destination offering a unique blend of beach holidays and cultural excursions.
According to Seoul’s Tourism Industry Department, approximately 20,000 Vietnamese visitors travel to the city each year for medical treatment. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 10 countries with the highest number of medical tourists to Seoul.
An analysis of accommodation search data based on check-in dates for June and July revealed that Nha Trang surpassed all other destinations in popularity among Korean users.
The programme is organised by the Khanh Hoa provincial Youth Union and the “Khanh Hoa people speak English” Project, and aims to promote the culture, history, cuisine and other tourism products of Nha Trang – Khanh Hoa to international visitors.
VNAT Director General Nguyen Trung Khanh called visa a golden ticket to pulling in crowds, but he is clear that it needs coordinated efforts across multiple sectors to keep the momentum going in this fast-moving global travel scene.
As a tourism hub, Hanoi is now actively developing strategies to attract Muslim travellers. In recent years, the city has seen a notable uptick in visitors from countries with large Muslim populations.
When tourists witness firsthand the passion and care of farmers, they’re willing to pay higher prices because they see the genuine worth behind every product.
During the first five months, China continued to be Vietnam's largest source market of tourists, followed by the RoK, China’s Taiwan, the US, and Japan.
After more than three months of operation, the popularity of the free tours in Bac Ninh province shows no signs of cooling down. Many tourists return every week in hopes of experiencing all the tours and visiting every destination.
Typical products of Phu Tho are being showcased at the Lao Cai International Travel Mart 2025, held in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai from June 5-8.
Featuring 130 stalls and delegations from 120 travel agencies representing more than ten countries and territories, the event is expected to provide a platform for establishing partnerships and attracting more visitors to Lao Cai in the future.
Kicking off the festival on the evening of June 7 will be the grand music concert titled “Nha Trang Say Hi”, featuring popular artists from the trending show “Anh Trai Say Hi”. The event will be broadcast live nationwide and conclude with a fireworks display over Nha Trang Bay.
Data from Booking.com reveals that during the peak summer vacation in June and July, beach trips continue to be a top priority for Vietnamese travellers.
The northern midland province of Phu Tho has carried out all-round measures to improve tourism infrastructure, services, and offerings, elevating visitor experience and reinforcing the province’s unique cultural identity.
Hanoi has directed lodging providers and tourist destinations to bolster preparations in staffing, service quality, security, and sanitation. Community-based lodging platforms such as Airbnb are also being promoted strongly to expand housing supply during the holiday period.
Malta-flagged Celebrity Solstice docks at Ha Long. (Photo: VNA) 
