Quang Ninh boosts cruise tourism to lure international visitors
Despite challenges from Typhoon Yagi, the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognised natural heritage Ha Long Bay, welcomed 19 million tourists, including 3.8 million foreigners, in 2024, with cruise travelers making a significant contribution.
The beauty of Ha Long Bay lures foreign visitors (Photo: VNA)
Quang Ninh (VNA) - Despite challenges from Typhoon Yagi, the northern province of Quang Ninh, home to UNESCO-recognised natural heritage Ha Long Bay, welcomed 19 million tourists, including 3.8 million foreigners, in 2024, with cruise travelers making a significant contribution.
Le𝄹ve💟raging its proximity to key markets such as China, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, the province has promoted its integrated infrastructure, breathtaking landscapes, and rich cultural heritage to attract cruise liners.
In 2024, approximately 60 international cruise ships brought over 100,000 visitors to Ha Long, with renowned brands like Viking Orion and Royal Caribbean making stops.
Looking ahead, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 20 million tourists in 2025, including 4.5 million international visitors.
Recent initiatives include enhancing cruise itineraries, such as routes from China’s Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Beihai to Ha Long. For instance, the Blue Dream Melody cruise ship brought 400 Chinese tourists to Ha Long in late 2024, signaling a growing demand.
The province’s tourism sector will continue to upgrade infrastructure, develop high-end tourism products, and ensure top-quality services. Emphasis will also be placed on training staff, improving safety standards, and collaborating with travel agencies to create customized experiences for cruise passengers. Ha Long city plans to integrate cultural themes, such as the City of Flowers and City of Festivals, to further enhance its appeal.
Additionally, the province intends to form partnerships with reputable tour operators and host media and travel agencies to showcase its offerings.
With these robust strategies, Quang Ninh is positioning itsel🐲f as a leading cruise destination in Vietnam and the region./.
In the fourth quarter of 2024, Quang Ninh province aims to attract 3.36 million visitors. To achieve this goal, the province plans to organise numerous exciting cultural, tourism, and sports events from now until the end of the year.
The northern province of Quang Ninh, which owns many tourist attractions from UNESCO-recognised World Natural Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay to beaches and islands, has seen a boom in tourism activities since the beginning of summer – the peak tourism season.
Quang Ninh aims to become an international tourism hub and a world leading destination by 2050 through establishing the brand of Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay as a landscape paradise and harmonising the development of economic-social-environmental ecosystems, along with raising the quality of life of local residents to meet international standards.
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.
