Quang Ninh welcomes 3,500 Hong Kong guests on luxury cruise

Italian-flagged five-star cruise ship Costa Serena docked at the Ha Long International Cruise Port Monday, bringing nearly 3,500 passengers from Hong Kong to the northern Vietnam province of Quang Ninh.

Costa Serena was the first cruise ship to bring tourists to Ha Long town after super typhoon Yagi, which made landfall on September 7.

Its arrival marked the start of the cruise tourism season, which usually runs from around October to April the following year. During their one-day stay, the visitors explored Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO world natural heritage site, as well as other local tourist attractions.

Pham Van Hiep, director of the Ha Long International Cruise Port, said Costa Serena was one of the largest cruise ships to dock in Ha Long this year. Owned by Italian company Costa Cruises, the ship has itineraries across Asia, particularly Southeast Asia.

Over 290 meters long and 35.5 meters wide, it offers a wide range of amenities, including swimming pools, restaurants, a water park, a gym and entertainment facilities. It is expected to return for four more visits in October and November, Hiep said.

He added that from now until the end of this year, the port will welcome 16 large renowned cruise ships including Mein Schiff 6, Celebrity Solstice and Noordam that will bring thousands of international tourists from Europe, America and China to Ha Long.

In two weeks after super typhoon Yagi, Ha Long Bay received nearly 40,000 visitors, almost 90% of them international, mainly from South Korea, India, Europe, and the U.S.

Despite significant losses caused by the typhoon, Quang Ninh has said it remains committed to achieving its 2024 goal of welcoming 19 million tourists, including 3.5 million international visitors.