Ha Long Bay welcomes tourists from 5 super luxury cruise ships during Lunar New Year holiday

Quang Ninh province, home to the UNESCO-recognized natural heritage site Ha Long Bay, will receive five super luxury cruise ships during Vietnam's Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, signalling its growing appeal as a favored destination on the itineraries of international cruise lines.

On the first day of Tet, Tuesday, February 17, the Halong International Cruise Port welcomed two of the five vessels: the Seabourn Encore, carrying 571 European passengers, and the Piano Land, with approximately 1,793 passengers, mainly from Hong Kong.

On the third, fourth and eighth days of Tet, the port is scheduled to welcome the French-flagged Le Jacques Cartier, as well as the Bahamas-flagged Adora Mediterranea and Silver Nova.

The first international visitors of the lunar year were warmly greeted by provincial leaders, representatives of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the cruise port’s leadership, and other relevant authorities.

Traditional Vietnamese Tet celebrations, including drum performances, lion dances, and lucky money offerings, were held in a festive atmosphere, leaving visitors with a strong impression of a friendly and hospitable destination.

Following the welcoming ceremony, visitors toured Ha Long Bay, joined city tours to explore local culture and cuisine, and experienced the rhythm of daily life in the northern province.

Immigration procedures, security arrangements, and tour coordination were carried out smoothly and efficiently to ensure safety and convenience.

According to Bui Quang Tuan, deputy executive director of Halong International Cruise Port, the arrival of international cruise ships in the early days of the year is a positive signal for the 2026 tourism season, while also setting higher service standards.

"The port aims to develop a professional and synchronized reception model aligned with international standards in infrastructure, procedures, and personnel, gradually positioning Quang Ninh as a prominent destination on the global high-end cruise tourism map," he added.

In 2026, the port is expected to welcome around 88 cruise calls with approximately 150,000 passengers from key markets such as the U.S., Germany, the UK, Canada, China, and several European countries.

In addition to the bustling cruise activity, on the second day of Tet (Wednesday), Van Don International Airport received private charter flights carrying Japanese business delegations visiting Quang Ninh for spring travel and exploring investment opportunities.

The simultaneous presence of high-end cruise passengers and private jet travelers in the early days of the year reflects the increasingly synchronized development of aviation and maritime infrastructure, as well as the province’s capacity to serve premium market segments.

This not only signals a promising start to the 2026 tourism season but also reinforces Quang Ninh’s position as a dynamic, high-end tourism hub integrating more deeply into regional and global trade and tourism networks.

According to local authorities, Quang Ninh welcomed 21.28 million visitors in 2025, including 4.5 million international arrivals. Tourism revenue reached more than VND57 trillion ($2.19 billion).