Quang Ninh (VNA) – The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh on January 1 welcomed its first cruise ship of the year, carrying 3,016 passengers, mostly from the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and Spain.
The Celebrity Solstice, flying the Maltese flag, docked at the local Ha Long international passenger port on the morning of December 31, 2025, and is scheduled to depart on the evening of January 1. The vessel began its voyage from a port in Thailand, and after Ha Long, its next destination will be Hong Kong (China).
At the welcoming ceremony on January 1, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Quan Minh Cuong presented flowers and extended New Year greetings to the cruise passengers.
Cuong stressed that Quang Ninh aims to develop into one of the country’s leading tourism hubs, serving as a gateway for tourism cooperation and connectivity with the region and the world, following a green growth and circular economy approach.
Alfonso Delgado, a tourist from Madrid, Spain, shared that the visit is a memorable way to begin the New Year, with the breathtaking scenery of Ha Long Bay, fresh air and pleasant weather. He said Vietnam is a beautiful country with friendly people and diverse, distinctive cuisine, and expressed his hope to return in the future.
A group of tourists from Mexico also expressed their delight and strong impression of the warm welcome from Quang Ninh, noting the beauty of Ha Long Bay. For them, the New Year’s trip is highly memorable and impressive.
In 2025, thanks to its modern and well-connected infrastructure, outstanding natural landscapes and rich local culture, Quang Ninh welcomed more than 60 cruise ships to Ha Long, carrying over 90,000 international visitors.
Although the province set a target of 20 million tourist arrivals, including 4.5 million foreigners, it exceeded expectations by welcoming over 21 million, generating estimated tourism revenue of 57–58 trillion VND (2.16–2.2 billion USD) through demand-stimulus campaigns, new tourism products, and cultural, sports and culinary events.
This year, it expects to welcome more than 70 international cruise ships with over 100,000 passengers to Ha Long. It also aims to attract 22 million tourists, including 5.2 million foreigners, and earn around 65 trillion VND in tourism revenue./.
